The Horse Thief. 

A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS. 
By Dr. Albert Carr. 



Printed in the office of the 
Harney Peak Mining News 
at Hill City, S. D. 



The Horse Thief, 

A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS. 



By Dr Albert Carr. 

Author of The Irish Prince; 
The Shining Mystery; The 
Bedrock Flume; The Wife and 
the Sword; The Miaer^s Dream; 
The Pierre Trails and other 
dramas. 



Copyright^ 1914 by Albert Carr. 



CAUTION:!!^" The performance 
of this drama for profit without 
the consent of the author is 
strictly forbidden. 



HILL CITY, S. D. 
1914. 



..--J \ly *V^ 



OAST OF CHARACTEKS. 

ROBERT BARDOAN. A wealthy 
horse rancher and widower. 

MILES CORSON. A banker. The 
secret accomplice of a band of desperate 
horse thieves. 

HAL UALPIN. A cowboy on his 
way back to home and civilization. 

SHERIFF GRANSON. "Tom" Gran- 
son, the sheriff of the county. 

WILLIE WYM. A girlish young 
man. Traveling salesman for a Boston 
millinery house. 

JACK HIGGINS. A horse thief. 

'^MEXICAN" PETE. A horse thief. 

"WILDCAT" JAKE. A bad man. 
Sheriff's posse. 

HELEN BARDOAN. Bardoan's 
only child and daughter. A brave girl 
and a dead shot. 

KATE O'BRIAN. An Irieh bachelor 
girl. Bardoan's neighbor. Known on 
the range as the Horse Queen of Elk 
creek, 

«OJ?HRONIA SIMPSON. A wealthy 
old maid from Boston. Friend of Wil- 
lie's grandmother. 



WAY -5 1914 

©CI.D 36936 



The Horse Thief, 



ACT I. 

SCENE. Trout fisher's camp in the 
mountains— the Black Hills. Heavy 
spruce and pine on mountain sides. 
Rough log bridge over stream running 
across stage^ rear. Spruce tre«t R. 
Extinguished fire^ coffeepot ect. near 
it. Tent, L. with camp-chairs, boxes, 
etc. scattered about it. 

Enter Kate O'Brian from R. 
over bridge. Has fishing-rod 
and long string of trout. 

Kate. The fresh mountain air gives 
the throut a graite appetite. They 
gobble the bait, fishhook, feathers, and 
and all. 

[^Holds up string of trout. 
That's as tine a string o' throut as was 
iver caught in the Black Hills. 

Enter Willie Wym from R, 
over bridge. Has fishing-rod 



1 THE HORSE THIEF. 

and one little trout. 

Willie. Is that you, Katy? 

Kate. Yes, Willie. Did you catch 
any? 

Willie. Yes— one. 

[Holds up one little trout. 

Kate. Sure, the throut are playin' 
with you. 

Willie. Do trout play with a fellow, 
Katy? 

Kate. Yes, whin girly-boys try to 
catch them. 

Willie, I think they are just like 
girls. When you want them,, they 
won't bite. 

Kate. You're right, Willie. Throut 
and girrels are jist alike. Whin you 
think you've got thim, they wiggle off 
your hook, and are gone. If you are as 
successful with the girrels as you are 
with the throut, I'm afraid you'll be a 
long time gettin' a wife. 

Willie. The trees were so green; the 
sky so blue; and the birdies chirpped so 
sweetly, I could not keep my mind on 
the trout. 

Kate. It is not the trees; nor the sky; 
nor the burdies that's turnin' jour 
little head, but thoughts of swate 
Helen Bardoan. 

Willie. T never thought of her once. 



THE HOUSE THIEF. 5 

while J was fishing. 

Kate. May'be it was Sophronia? 

Willie. What, that awful, old maid! 
Think of her? 

Kate. Why not, Willie? She'll bite 
aisy and without much angling. 

Willie. Why, she talks to me like I 
was a little boy, and tries to hug me. 

Kate. Why don't you let her? 

Willie. Because I don't allow women 
to hug me. 

Kate. That's right, Willie; protect 
yourself and be dacint. 

Enter Robert Bardoan H . over 
bridge. Has fisking-rod and 
string of trout. 

Robert. You quit, Willie? How 
many did you get? 

[Willie holds up one little trout. 
{Laughs) Only one, Willie? 

Willie. That's all, Robert. It was 
awful game. 

Robert. It must have been, to take 
you all the morning to catch ii. 

[Holds up string of tront. 
That's what I call luck! The Bardoans 
are all good fishers. 

Kate. (Holding up her string of 
trout.) So are the O'Brians. 

Robert. By my feelings, Kate, its 
about dinner time. 



6 THE HORSE THIE|h\ 

Kate. All rigbt, Robert. You start 
the tire, and I'll tind to the aitables. 

Robert. Well, .here we go. 
[Robert and Kate busy themsel'^e» 
getting lunch. Robert builds fire 
under spruce tree, R. Ki^te ex- 
temporize table of boxes and 
boards, C. and sets table . 

Robert. Have you seen, Sophronia? 

Kate. No, Robert; not since she 
started off after, Willie. 

Robert. Willie 's here. 

[Hangs coffee-pot on fire. 

Kate. Well, she's not far away, 

Willie. She cnaoes me everywhere. 

Robert. She's a chaser, is she? 

W^illie. Something awful! 

Enter Sophronia Simpson from R. 
over bridge. She has fishing-rod 
with large black fish on it . . 

Sophronia. Ijook, Robert, I've caught 
a great, big, Dlack trout. 

\Holds up fish, 

Willie. (Aside.) There's that horrid 
old woman! 

[Runs off, R. 

Robert. A black trout, Sophronia? 

Sophronia. Yes, and its the first time 
I ever fished for trout in my life. 

Robert. That's a supker^-a big black 
sucker. 



THE HUKISE THIEF. 7 

Sophronia. U g-g-h! What shall I 
do with it? 

Robert. Cook it for Willie. 

Willie. {Looking on at H.) I'll never 
eat it, — no, never! It would give qcie 
appendicitis. 

{^Disappears. 

Sophronia. {Dropping rod and fish) 
Well, 1 declare if there isn't little 
Willie! Willie! WilHe! 

{Runs off, R. 

Robert. {Laughing) Poor little Willie! 

Kate. She's awful fond of him. 

Robert. Yes, but Willie doesn't seem 
to take to her. 

Kate. No, he bakes to the woods. 

Robert. I don't see why she should 
think Willie possible. She is old 
enough to be his mother. 

Kate. She's tried her luck on all the 
rist of you, but couldn't get a bite. 
Willie 's all that's left. 

Robert. He may be the sucker, 

Kate. They say she's worth a hun- 
dred thousand dollars. Willie may 
bite at that. 

Robert. Well, Willie needs a guar- 
dian, anyway, 

{Willie runs aaross ptage from R. to 
L. folloived by Sophronia. 

Willie. It IS just terrible! 

[Exit, L 



8 THUi HURSiiS THIEr. 

Sophronia. Now, Willie dear, do 
wait. 

[Exit, L. 

Kate. Willie 'b playin' throut with 
her. If she iver catches him, she'll have 
to put him in an aquarium. 

Robert. The coffee is boilingf. You 
you better call Sophronia and Willie. 

Kate. They'll come when Willie gets 
out of breath. But Robert, Helen ought 
to be here by this time. 

Robert. She is with tJorson. They 
know its dinner time. They ought to 
be here. 

[Qoen upon bridge and looks off R. 
I don't see anything of them. 

[Advanaes. 
Did they follow us up stream? 

Kate. Really, I didn't observe. 

Kobert. Oh, well! daughter will come. 
I don't think she would stray away 
from Corson. 

Kate. May'be not. 

Robert. Are you ready for the coffee? 

Kate. Yes, Robert. 

Robert. Well, here it is, hot and 
strong. 

[Pours coffee in two tin cups. They 

sit down at table, C. Hands Kate 

cup of coffee. They eat and drink. 

I'm glad the members of our fishing 

party are enjoying themselves. They 



THE HORSE THIEF. 



all seem to have paired off but you 
and r. 

Kate. Will you have some sugar 
in your coffee? 

[Hands Robert sugar > 

Robert. {Putting sugar in eoffee.) 
What do you say to our taking a little 
affectonate interest in each other? 

Kate. Here's the craime. 
[Hands Robert can of crtam. He 
pours cream in coffee. 

Robert. Our ranches join; our horses 
Tun on the same range; and are branded 
in the same corral. You are a woman 
of twenty eight, and I am a widower 
of forty four. If this affectonate 
interest, of which I speak, should be- 
come serious, we can do as others 
have done, — get married. 

Kfite. You and I, Robert Bardoan, 
have be«n the bist of f rinds ever since 
I came to the Hills and took the claim. 
You've made money in harses, and I've 
made money in harses — Have a spoon 
for your coffee. 

[Gives hirti large iron spoon. 

Robert, {Taking spoon.) Yeu don't 
mean — {Aside) Spoon means spooney. 
This IS a hint. A big one too, judging 
from the size of the spoon. {To Kate, 
sheepishly.) Kate, what did you really 



10 ,THfi HORS E THIEF. 

give me this spoon for? 

Kate. As a soUvenir. 

Robert. When I get back to the 
ranch, I'll tie a blue ribbon on it and 
hang it up in the best room in the 
house. 

Kate. Very good, jist so you don't 
hang it over that blue ribbon cupboard 
of yours. 

[Robert grins and wink$ at audi- 
ence. 

Robert. Say, Kate, did^you ever have 
a lover? 

Kate. Yes; a conductor. 

Robert. Where is he now? 

Kate. In jail. 

Robert. Huh I Did that conductor 
make love to you? 

Kate. Sure. , 

Robert. How did he begin? 

Kate, He ask«d me, if I'd ever loved 
a man. ^ 

Robert. What did you tell him? 

Kate. I told him, yes. 

Robert. Did you tell him who the 
man was? 

Kate. I did. 

Robert. Will you tell me? 

Kate. Why, sure. 

Robert. Who was it? 

Kate. Me father. 

[A pause. Robert eat». 



THE HORSE THIEF. 11 



Robert. {Aside.) I wonder, if IMl ever 
succeed in making a bejfinning with 
her? {To Kate.) Say, Kate, barring 
your father, who was the first man you 
ever took an affectonate interest in? 
Kate. An old man. 
Robert. {Chterfully,) Who was hel 
Kate. The milkman. I was raised on 
the bottle. 
Robert. Oh, bosh! 
[Takes iron spoon out of pocket, 
and lays it on table, 
Kate, is there anything in this world 
I can do to obtain your serious con- 
deration? 
Kate. Yes, Robert. 
Robert. Speak, dear girl, what is it? 
Kate. Let me ait me dinner. 
Robert. Roped again I 

Enter Sophronia, L„ leading 
Willie by the hand. He hangs 
back like an unwilling child. 

Kate. That's right, Sophronja, bring 
him to dinner. 
Sophronia, Dinner I And all ready! 
[Trips to table f nips up a piece of 
cake deftly with her fingers and 
eats. 
This is that lovely ginger-bread. 

Robert. Have some coffee, Sophro- 
nia. 



12 THE HORSE THIEF. 

[Pours coffee into a tin cup and 
hands it to Sophronia. 
Come, Willie. 

[Pours coffee into a tin cup and 
gives it to Willie. 
Sophronia, Come, sit by me, Willie 
dear. 
Willie. No; I want to eat my dinner. 
Kate. Have a sandwich, Willie. 

[Willie takei sandwich. 
Sophronia. And here is some of that 
lovely ginger-bread. 

Willie. {Loftily.) I don't want any 
ginger-bread. I never eat any kind of 
cake but lady's fingers and summer 
dreams. 

Robert, Here is some summer 
sausage, Willie. 
Willie. Oh, heavens — no I 
Kate. Have some olives. 
Willie. Olives! Castor oil — u-g-g-h! 
No. 
Kate, Have some salmon. 
Willie. Yes. I am fond of fish. 

[Takes $ome on a plate. 
When I eat fish, I think of the sea; 
not what you see, but the sea, in 
which you see the water. 

[Give* his little laugh, 
Kate. Will yop have a lemon? 
Willie, les, give me a lemonl 
Kate. Well, here it is. 



THE HURSE THIEF. 13 

[Gives him lemon. 
Willie. 1 must be brave and learn to 
love the lemon, because — 

Sophronia. You silly child! Sit down 
and eat your little dinner. 

[Willie sits down at good distance 
from Sophronia rights and eats. 
/ Robert. {Rising.) I don't see why 
Helen doesn't come. She promised to 
be here by noon. She has always kept 
her word with me before. I will take 
my rifle and walk down stream and see 
if I can find her. 

[Get rifle out of tent. Cross bridge 
and exit^ L. 
Kate. Have you seen anything of 
Helen, Willie? 

Willie. No, Katy. She went with 
Mr. Corson. 

Kate. She was with him the last I 
saw of her. You haven't seen her any- 
wheer along the creek have you, 
Sophronia? 
Sophronia. No; I was with Willie. 
Willie. {Aside.) I could not get away 
from her. I wish she was on Pike's 
Peak. 

Kate. I'll put the fish in the tank, 
and take a look meself. 

[Put fish in tank right of bridge. 
Sophronia. Won't you have some 
cheese, Willie? 



14 THE HORSE THIEF. 



Willie. I never eat cheese. I'm no 
mouse. 

[Gives his little laugh. 
Sophronia. Have some beans. 
Willie. {Jumping up.) Beans! Oh, 
Horrors, no! 

[Kate advances, draw* revolver 

from belt, examines it, and puts 

it back in belt. 

Kate. Well, I'm going to take a 

stroll up the creek, and see if I can find 

Helen. Take care o' yersele till I come 

back. 

[Crosi bridge and exit, R. 
Willie. I'm going, too, 

[Places cup and plate »n table, C. 
Sophronia. {Jumping up.) No, stay, 
Willie. 
Willie. You can stay. 
Sophronia. If you go; I go. 
Willie. Well, I'm going. 

[Run across bridge and exit, H . 
Sophronia. {Running after him across 
bridge.) Willie! Willie! Wait for mej 
Wait for me! 

[Exit, R. 

Jack Higgins and Mexican 
Pete steal on, R 

Jack. Here's the camp, Pete. 
Pete. Liook in that tent. 

[Jack looks in tent. 



THE HUKSE THIEF. 15 

Jack. All clear. 

Pete. I« Corson with them? 

Jack. Yes. He induced Bardoan to 
come up into the mountains after trout, 
so that Bardoan would be away while 
the boys were down on his range 
picking up his horses. 

Pete. No like this way, Jack. 

Jack. Corson is here with Bardoan, 
where he can watch him and warn us. 

Pete. Oh, hell! 

Jack. Its the right thing, Pete. We 
have eleven of Bardoan's horses up in 
the old stockade. 

Pete, Ali in stockade, hah? 

Jack. Every hoof. The stockade is 
about three miles from here. 

Pete. I know those place. Boys 
said, I should to come up and help you^ 

Jack, Corson sent word by one of the 
boys, to move on into Wyoming to- 
night. 

Pete. With the whole bunch? 

Jack. Yes, Pete. They are good 
stock, aqd gentle as sheep. Bardoan's 
pet is among them. Our first stop will 
be at old Frenchie's, just over the line. 
He will fix up the brands. 

Pete. To-night to go to Wyoming? 

Jack. Yes. Once in Wyoming, we are 
safe. We've converted the stockade 
into a corral. It is a fine place. So hid- 



16 THJii llORSili THIEF 



den and out of the way. 

Pete. Miles Corson is a smart fellow. 
He has a bank, and he is go to the 
church that no one is suspicion that be 
*s of the horse thief to make his money. 

Jack. Hush! Don't talk so loud. 

Pete. No one here 

Jack. Well, you go up to the stock- 
ade, rU be there shortly. I'm going to 
hang 'round here awhile, and see if I 
can get a word with Corson, 

Pete. Get some money and some 
whiskey. 

Jack. Yes, if he has the stuff with 
him. 

Pete, S'long! 

Jack. S'long, Pete! 

[Exit, Pete, R. 
I must see, Corson. I — some one 
coming. 

[Hurries off^ R- 

Enter Helen Bardoan and 
Miles Corson, L. Throw fish- 
ing rods down near tent. 
Miles lays fish-hasket on table . 

Miles. {Advancing.) I must have an 
answer. 

Helen. You mustt 

Miles. My love for you, Helen, grows 
impatient. | 

Helen. True love never grows impa- 



THE HOtilSE THIEF. 17 

tient. Its patience is as enduring as its 
hope Better wait, Miles. I do not 
care to answer to-day. 

Miles. (Sulkily.) I must know my fate. 

Helen. Your fate! 

Miles. {Aggressively.) I must have a 
an answer now. 

Helen. You are quite positive in 
your demand. 

Miles. The madness of my love drives 
me to it. I can bear this suspence no 
longer. 

Helen. What would you do, were I 
to answer, no? 

Miles. What would any man do, 
whose love for a woman consumes him? 
{Desperately.) It must be, yes. 

Helen. I fear, I do not understand 
you. 

Miles. We are alone in this silent 
forest. I am your protector, your 
friend, your lover — 

Helen. Miles Corson, I realize we are 
alone. I have been alone — alone on the 
range at midnight, with nothing to 
break its wide silence but the bark of 
the coyote or the hoot of the ground 
owl. I needed no one to protect me 
then; I need no one to protect me now. 
I feel perfectly able to protect myself. 
[Draws revolver from pocket. 

Miles. (Aside.) She is a dead shot. 



18 THE HORSJii THIEF 

Helen. Come, have toaie dinner. 

[Low whistle off, R. 
Miles. {Startled.) No— I am not 
hungry. 

Helen. Not hungry! You haven't 
eaten since morning. 

[Picks up sandwich from table and 
eats. 
I am hungry. 

[Low whistle ojf, R. Helen notices 
it. 
Better have some coffee. 
Miles. No — not now. 
Helen. It is still warm. 
[Pours coffee in tin cup and 
drinks. 
Won't you have a cup? 
Miles. No! 

[Low whistle off, R. 
{Aside.) That is one of the men. Surely, 
he will not come hereJ 

Helen What has occurred? You 
appear quite uneasy. 

Miles. I wish you would put up 
that pistol. 

Helen. Not until papa comes. 
[Low whistle off, R. Miles very 
uneasy. Helen bocks toward 
bridge . 
Miles. Where are you going? 
Helen. To look for papa. 
Miles. {Savagely.) Then, go! 



THE HOR1SE THIEF. 19 

1 Turns hack to her and walks to 

extreme^ R. and looks off. Helen 

dodges behind tent, L. Miles 

turn* and looks for her. 

Gone to find papa. Let her go! Bar- 

doan won't believe her. He thinks, 

I am the only man in the country. 

I don't believe she noticed that whistle. 

She could hardly distinguish it from the 

call of a bird. It may be Jack. 

[Gives low bird-like whi»tle. 

Enter Jack Higgins cautiously , 
hi. 

Jack. I've found you at last. 

Miles. You knew, I was on the creek. 

Jack. Yes, but I had to locate you. 
I couldn't come here and ask for you. 

Miles. Certainly not! 

Jack. Any one around? 

Miles. No — but some one may come 
any moment. 

Jack. The horses are all up in the 
stockade. 

Miles. Are they all Bardoan's? 

Jack. Everyone of them. The gen- 
tlest and best of hi^ bunch. Even his 
pet is among them. 

Miles. How many, in all? 

Jack. Eleven. 

Miles. "^ ou got my word, to pull for 
Wyoming to-night? 



20 THE HORSE THIEF 



Jack. Yes. \ 

Miles. I'll put up some excuse \.o get 
away from here, and come over to the 
stockade just about dark. Who have 
you vi^ith you? 

Jack. Mexican Pete. 

Miles. He'll do. 

Jack. Have you any money? 

Miles. ^ es. Here's a hundred. 

[Oives Jack money. 

Jack. Got any whisky? 

Miles. Yes, four quart bottles. 
They are cached behind that white 
rock yonder. 

[Points to off, R. 
But, Jack, a man needs a clear head in 
business of this kind. I know you 
never drink to excess when on duty. 
But with Pete it is whisky first, and 
duty afterwards. You will have to give 
it to him in nips. 

Jack. I'll hold the rope on Pete. 
We'll expect you about dark. 

Miles. I will be there, unless so me- 
thing unusual detains me. If I fail to 
come, that is certain evidence that you 
should move. 

Jack. I understand. Come, get me 
the whisky. 

\ Exeunt Jack qnd Miles, R. Helen 
steals forth from behind tent. 
Helen. I heard them say something 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 21 

about horses — fiardoan's horses — and an 
old stockade — then the command to 
move on into Wyoming to-night. There 
can be no delay! I suspicion horse 
thieves. Can it be the good citizen, 
the influential banker, Miles Corson, 
is the accomplice of horse thieves! His 
words and actions before I left him were 
strange and alarming. My father trusts 
and believes in him greatly. So he dues 
in most anyone until he in imposed upon 
or robbed. That is his weakness. Poor, 
kind, Robert Bardoan! 

[Dodget behind tenU L. 
Enter Miles Cprspn, R. 
Miles. I'll start the horses in the 
stockade for Wyoming to-night, and 
then assist Bardoan to find the bunch, 
the boys bring up from below to-morrow.* 
This will put me in high favor with him 
I was a little too aggessive with Helen 
But I must have her and will have her 
in spite of herself. I'll smooth the mat- 
ter over with her father. He will believe 
me. He is easy as an old shoe. I will 
go and hunt him up. 

\^Exit, L. 
Helen ateaU forth right of tent 
She hurries cautiously across to 
R, L9oks off right earnestly 
and searching ly. 



22 THE HORSH; THIEF'. 



Helen. I see the burly, nard-faced 
man — he ie jusl mounting his horse. He 
will have to ride slow through the tim- 
ber. I must tind out who and what 
this friend of Corson's is. I will follow 
him, danger or no danger. 

[Moves off. R. shadowing 
Jack. Revolver in hand. 

Enter Kate from R. over 
bridge. 

Kate. I didn't find^ her. I'll wash 
up the dishes, and thin start out and 
take another look. 

yBusies herself with dishes. 
Enter Robert Bardoan from L. 
ever bridge. 

Robert. Is Helen here? 

Kate. No, Robert. 

Robert. J can find no trace of her. 
She may be lost. 

Kate, May 'be she has found a good 
fishing place, and hates to lave it. 

Robert. I am worried about her. 
Has Corson been in since I left? 

Kate. No, sir, — not that I know of. 

Robert. Where are Sophronia and 
Wilhe? 

Kate. Off sparking somewheer, I 
suppose. 



THE HOUSE THIEF. 23 

Enter Sophronia and Willie 
from H. over bridge, Sophronia 
leading Willie. 

, Sophronia. We didn't find Helen. 
Willie. Sophronia, you did not try. 

Sophronia. We searched everywhere, 
Robert. 

Willie. Oh, pickles! she hasn't done a 
thing but hug me. 

Sophronia Now, Willie Wym! 

Willie. It 's just terrible. 

tlobert. Corae, Kate, we'll try the 
south aide of the creek. 

Kate. We'll find her this time. 

Robert. Willie, there are a couple of 
pistols in the tent. You will have to 
look out for Sophronia and yourself for 
awhile. 

Willie. I never shot a pistol in my 
life. 

Sophronia. I have. 
[Rushes into tent. Comes out flour - 
ing pistols. 
If any vile man — 

Willie. Put up those pistols. They 
might go off and scare the birdies. 

Sophronia. Now lean defend myself. 

Willie. {Aside.) I wish [ could defend 
myself against her. 

Robert. I wish I had brought Skip. 
The wagon horses are too heavy for 



•24 IHE HORSJli THIEF. 

saddle work in the timber. Art* you 
ready, Kate? 

Kate. Yes, Robert. 

Willie. Are you going to leave me? 

Kate. Are you afraid, Willie? 

Willie. No, but I want to go with 
you. 

Kate. And lave Sophronia? A bear 
might come and hug her to death. 

Willie. Sh« would Uie happy. 

Sophronia You horrid boy! 

Willie. Please let me go, Katy. 

Kate. No, ye'll have to stay and 
protect Sophronia. 

Sophronia. I'll not stay alone. 

Willie. Let me go, and let Robert 
stay and protect Sophronia. He can 
protect her better than I can. 

Robert. (Quickly.) Come, Kate, we 
have no time to lose. 

[Exeunt Hohert and Kate, R. 

Sophronia. [Tragically.) At last, we 
are alone. 

Willie. I wish you wonld n't flourish 
those pistols in that frightful manuer. 

Sophronia. Willie. I am rich. I came 
to this country seeking investment for 
my money. Mr. Corson has placed sev-^ 
eral thousand dollars for me in excellent 
loans. 

Willie. You have told me all this 
belore. Why do you tell it to me again? 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 25 

Sophronia. Because I love you, Wil- 
lie, and want you to share my fortune 
with me. 

[Lays pistols on table. 

Willie. [Aside.) I'm a goner! I see 
the posies growing on my little grave. 

Sophronia. Come, share my fortune 
with me. 

Willie. Are you proposing to me? 

Sophronia. Yes, sweetness, this is 
leapyear. 

[Rushes to him and throivs arms 
around his neck. 
How I love you! 

Willie. How dare you! 

Sophronia Love knows no restraint. 

Willie. (Helplessly.) I wish it did. 
Don't! you'll bend ray neck and make it 
crooked. 

[Breaks from her and cresses to, R. 
Stay where you are— let me think a 
moment. {Aside.) She has a hundred 
thousand dollars: and she says, she will 
share it with me. It is a hard way to 
make money, but it is the best I can do. 
{Aloud) Sophronia, you may kiss me. 

Sophronia. {Rushing to him) Oh, 
rapture! 

Willie, {Aside.) Whew! chewing- 
gum — spearmint — digestion. 

Sophronia. Just one more, love, 

{Starts to kiss him. 



26 THE HORSE THIEF. 



Enter Miles Corson, L. 

Miles. {Atide.) The old fool! {Aloud.) 
Where is Bardoan? 

[Sophronia screams and releases 
Willie 
Where is Kace? 

Sophronia. How you startled me. I 
thought it was a bear. 

Willie. And she couldn't bear it. 

[Gives his little laugh . 

Sophronia. Mr. Bardoan and Kate 
have gone up the south side of the 
creek in search of Miss Helen. 

MileB. {With excitement.) In search 
of Helen! Why, Helen went — no — can 
it be — possibly — {Aside.) The stockade 
is back from the south side of the creek 
about a mile up. What if Bardoan and 
Kate should wander there. I must be 
with them to warn the boys and play 
my card, {Aloud,) I hope I can find 
them. 

Willie. If you think you can't, you 
stay with Sophronia, and let me go. 

Miles. Not this time. 

{Exit hurriedly, R. 

Sophronia. That man acts like he 
had lost his mind. 

Willie. Most men do when trailing 
a woman. 
Sophronia. {Pinching him.) You cute, 



THE HORSE THIEF. 27 

little thing! 

Willie You aaid, I was to have half 
of your fortune? 

* Sophronia. Yes, deary — fifty thou- 
sand. 

Willie. {Resignedly.) I do not believe, 
I can resist you any longer. 

Sophronia. I knew you could not 
resist my love, dewdrop. 

Willi*. No fellow could, unless he 
was armed. 

Sophronia. Now, Willie! 

Willie. When do I get the money ? 

Sophronia. The day we are married, 
and go on our honeymoon. 

Willie. I accept you, Sophronia. 

But after this, I^ll do the hugging" 

[Grabs her and huqs her 

{Aside.) What can't a brave man do, 

when he makes up his mind! 

Sophronia. You don't kuow how hap- 
py you make me, Willie! 

Willie. You couldn't give me a check 
for a thousand to-day, could you? 

Sophronia. No, my love, not until we 
are married. 

Willie. 1 ought to have something in 
advance. 

Sophronia. You have me, birdie. 

Willie. Yqb,— {Desperately.) but I 
want money . 

[Picks up pistols^ 



28 THE HORSJfi THIEF. 



Sophronia. Why, Willie, what are 
you going to do? 

Willie. Hunt for Helen. 

Sophronia. t shall go with you. 

Willie. {Flourishing pistols.) No. 
Positively, No. 

Sophronia. You terrible man! 

Willie. I am simply awful when I am 
all roused up. Once when I was like 
that 1 killed a eleven live cats— % 

Sophronia You did! 

Willie. Yes, I dropped them into a 
pail of cold water. 

[Oives his little laugh. 

Sophronia. Willie Wym! 

Willie. Well, I'm going. 

Sophronia I shall go, too. 

Willie. Then, come on. 

[ Going. 

Sophronia. What if we should get 
lost? 

Willie. I am lost already. 

Sophronia. Let us go back to Boston. 

Willie. We must get out of the 
woods first. 

Sophronia. Oh, why did I come! 

Willie. I told you, not to. 

Sophronia. Poor, trusting, woman! 

Willie. Yes, she'll trust you with 
everything but her money. 

Sophronia. Oh, Willie! 

Willie. Well, I'm going. 



THE HORSE THIEF. 29 

[Going. 
Sophronia. Are you not afraid? 
Willie. I am not afraid of anything 
aince I conaented to marry you. 
Sophronia. Then we will go. 

[Takea Willie by left ear. 
Willie. Sophronia, you are just awful! 
[Sophronia leads him off, R. 
by ear. 

DROP-CURTAIN. 



30 THE HORSHi THIEF. 



ACT II. 

SCENE. The old stockade. An open 
park in the mountains surrounded by 
low mountain peaks heavily timbered 
with spruce and pine. Log wall of 
stockade across stage, rear. Heavy 
wooden gates in center of stockade vjall. 
Saddles, bridles, and lariats, lying left 
of gate. Old, low. log-cabin, L. Log 
and large rock, R. 

Enter Hal Halpin, L.U.E, He 
is in full cowboy costume and 
trappings, 

Hal. I thought, I was on the right 
road to Sundance. I've rode all night 
and part of a day since I got off the 
wide trail, and here I am way up in the 
mountains somewhere. Just where, J 
am not quite clear in my understanding. 
I guess, I'm lost. I may have to ride 
around for a few days, but I'll make 
civilization finally. I wonder how it will 
seem to get back again, where one can 
see people all the time, and hear the 
sweet voice of a woman once in awhile. 
It was a long, hard, ride, but there was 
no other way out of the sagebrush. No 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 31 

more Wyomiflg for me, I am dead sick 
of the range. As soon as I reach a rail- 
road town, I'll sell ray outfit, and make 
for the old home down in Iowa. I have 
a thousand dollars in cash and other 
valuable paper in my belt, and if I ever 
get out of this country with it still 
there, I'll stay out. But it is pleasant 
up here in the mountains. The smell of 
pines and the cool air braces a fellow up. 
I Look a big drink at a clear mouatain 
spring below, and it sure freshened me 
up. Pony spread his nostrils when he 
poked his nose into it Everything is 
very quiet here. 

[Looks around. Goes to stockade 
gate and looks in. 
(Advancing.) This is the old stockade. 
I have heard of it down on the range. 
It was built by some early prospectors. 
I know where I am now, It is a queer 
place for a corral. Aad here is a cabin. 
I wonder if there is anything" to eat in 
that cabin. I haven't hod anything to 
eat since yesterday nooo. 1 am about as 
hungry as a fellow ever gets, before 
starving. Don't see anybody around. 
Guess, I'll have to help myself, and 
apologise afterwards, if anyone comes. 
(Yawns.) I am awful sleepy. If there is 
a bunk in that cabin, I'll borrow that 
too. 



32 THE HORSili THIEF. 

\Exits into cabin closing 
door behind him. 

Enter Mexican Pete L.UE. 
Looks cautiously about before 
advancing. 

Pete. All quiet here. ^ 

[Ooes to stockade and looks in 

Advances to i-ock, R. 

Horse all right. Up all night, and to 

ride all day makes oae to want sleep, I'll 

take a nap by this old rook. 

[Drops down, back against rock. 
If I had some whisky— 

[Pulls hat down over eyes and 
dozes. 

Enter Jack Higgins L. U. E. 
Has small sack qn back. Looks 
cautiously about advancing to 
Pete. 

Jack. {In low voice.) Pete. 
Pete. {Rousing up,) What gets th* 
matter now? 
Jack. I thought I saw some one. 
Pete. May'be me. I was to corral. 
Jack. It might have been you. 
Pete, Did you see Coreon? 
Jack. Yes, I saw him. 
Pete. Get any money? 
Jack. Yes, a hundred dollars. 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 33 

Pete. {Rising to feet.) Any whisky? 

Jack. Yes, plenty for the trip. 

Pete. Gi'me some. 

Jack. Not here. Corson is cooaing 
over. 

Pete. When is he to come? 

Jack. Shortly before dark. 

Pete. Want drink bad! 

Jack. Come, we will go over to the 
dog-tent in the draw. 

Pete. Gi'me drink! 

Jack. When we get over in the draw. 

Pete. Caramba! 

Jack. I never like to be around the 
horses in the daytime. Some fool might, 
come along and — 

Pete. Kill the fool! 
Jack. We don't want to do any 
killing until vre have to. Killing" is bad 
business. They hang men for killing, 
any old time. ^ 
Pete. For horsestealing, too. 
Jack. Yes, m this country. That's 
what makes this careful business. 
Pete. {In louder voice.) Gi'me to 



drink. 




Jack. 


Hush! Come along! 




[Going 


Pete. 


Whisky you got in bag? 


Jack. 


Yes, in the bag. 


Pete. 


How much? 


Jack. 


Never mind! I'll give you t 



34 THE HORSi^i THIEF 



drink as bood as we get to the tent. 
Pete. All right. 

Jack. Hark! I thought I heard some 
ODe snoring. 
Pete. One o' ohe horses blowing. 
Jack. Well, come on. 

[Exeunt Jack and Pete, R.U E. 
Enter Helen Bardoan L.U.E. 
revolver in hand. Looks cau- 
tiously around, advancing. 

Helen. Here is the old stockade. 
\^Enter8 stockade. Comes out, clos- 
ing gate behind her. Advances, 
looking around cautiously. 
Yes, they are all papa's horses I counted 
eleven. Skip is among them. This 
is a very dangerous place. No girl but 
one brought up on the range would dare 
do as I have done 

Enter Pete and Jack, R.U.S. 
stealthily . 

[They rush upon Helen. Pete 
thrusts up her pistol hand and 
pistol goes off. Jack wrenches 
pistol out of her havid, drop- 
ping it on stage. She screc^ms^ 
Hal rushes from cabin bare- 
headed with pistol in hand. 

Pete. We're caught! 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 35 

Jack. Hold the girl in front of us. 
[Jack fires at Hal. Hal ducks, 
dodging bullet. Fete holds 
Helen in front of him and 
Jack, backing to right. As 
soon as they reach extreme R. 
Fete gives Helen a push 
towards Hal, and Jack and 
Fete dash off stage, R. Helen 
rushe^ into HaVs arms. He 
swings her around behind him ^ 
and fires at retreating horse 
thieves. 

Helen L Oh, bave mel 

Hal, XoM are saved, sweetheart. 
They have hit the high places. They 
have skipped. 

Helen. Where did you come from? 

Hal. I waa asleep in the cabin. 

Helen. In that cabin? 

Hal. Yes, thai cabin. But I heard 
the shot and your scream, and it woke 
me up in a hurry. 

Helen. Do you stay here? 

Hal. N6, I am from Wyoming. 

Helen. What is your name? 

Hal, Hal Halpia. 

Helen. Are you a horse thief? 

Hal. Well, no. I have only one horse, 
and I'll sell him a^s soon as I j?ei. to a 
railroad town. 



36 THE HORSJii THIEF. 

Helen. But you were here, and 
asleep in that cabin. 

Hal. Yes, I was asleep in that 
cabin —mi^jhty dead, sound asleep. 

Helen. There are eleven of nay 
father's horses in that stockade. They 
wera brought by unknown men from my 
father's range down on Elk creek, fifty 
or sixty miles below here. 

Hal. It struck me, this was a queer 
place for a corral. . 

Helen. I hope aud pray, I am not 
deceivtd in you. You have saved me 
from those evil men, and for that 1 feel 
a gratitude that prompts me to both 
hope and pray, you are not a horse thief. 

Hal. Why. bless you, I am a cowboy. 

Helen- How came you here? 

Hal. I was on my way to Sundance, 
but somehow got off the trail last night. 
After a long ride, I arrived here tired 
and hungry. I found something to eat 
in that cabin, and after eating what I 
found, dropped into one of the old 
bunks and went to sleep. This is the 
whole story. 
Helen. My name* is Helen Bardoan. 
[Extends hand. 
Here is my hand. 

[He takes her hand. 
You defend a woman, and that speaks 
for your honor and manhood 



IKE HOKSE THIEF. 37 



Hal. {Holding her hand,) It was a 
woman who watched over me, cared for 
me, and nourished me with her life's 
blood in the most helpless period of my 
existence. Why shouldn't 1 defend a 
woman? 

{Releases her hand. 
Helen. I am convinced. I trust you. 
I ana deeply thankful to the providence 
that guided you to this meeting. 

Hal. Indeed, 1 am too, for I haven't 
seen the sweet face of a woman for a 
whole long year. 

[Sees revolver. Picks it up. 
They left a six-shooter. 
Helen. It is mine. 

[He gives revolver to her. 
It was wrenched from me in my struggle. 
[Thrusts pistol iri belt. 
Hal. I fear we will need all the 
pistols and ammunition we have. This 
is a robber's den; the secluded retreat of 
a band of desperate horse thieves. 

[Hslen crowds close to him. He puts 
arm around her. 
Pear noti I will defend you A^ith my 
life. 
Helen. Wbat had we better do? 
Hal. We better pull out of here, and 
be quick about it.. HarkI what was 
chat? Sh-h-h! — above the cabin— listen. 
[Helen drawn piHtol 



38 THE HOR8J11 THIEF. 

It may be another of the gang. Come! 
[They hurry noiselessly off L. 
around lower end of cabin. 

E'i.ter Miles Corson, L.U.E. 
Advances cautiously looking 
around . 

Miles. Everything quiet. The boys 
cannot be far away. 

[Gives low whistle. 

Enter Jack and Pete, R. cauti- 
ously. 

Jack. Talk low. 

Miles. What's the matter? 

Pete. We're spotted. 

Miles. What has happened? 

Jack. Bardoan's daughter was here 
with a strange cowboy. He drove us off 
with a gun. 

Miles. Both of you? 

Pete Yes, both of us. He is all the 
time know what he is to do next. He is 
onto his job. 

Jack. Did you see him dodge that 
bullet, Pete? 

Pete. He's dam' quick. 

Miles. Who is be? 

Pete. He may be the devil for all I 
know who he is. This whole business, 
fool business. When it is to gather 
horses no use to have people all around 



THE HOHSE THI^F. 39 



• to catching fish. Bab I * 

Miles. It seems like two ought to 
have been able to hold up one cowboy. 

Pete. He's loo quick. 

MilesL Wb must get the horses away 
trom here. As for that cowboy, I'll 
undertake to round him up, myself. 
Who's horse is that yonder? 

yPointato L.U.E. 

Jack, It, must be his — the cowbo>'s. 

Miles, It is his, hey? VVell, I'll wait 
for him. And I'll get him. 

Jack. Well, something: musi; be done, 
and done quickly. 

Mies. That's right. Jack. But we'll 
wait awhile for Mr. Cowboy. 

Pete. Better pull for Wyoming, 

Jack. I tell you, Corson, you don't 
want that girl or that cowboy to see you 
with us. if they du, it'll ba all otf with 
you in town. 

Miles. Oh, well, I'll tix that. 

ISriiilen sneering ly. 
I will tell them, 1 was held up and 
captured by . the horse thieves. They 
will^ believe me. I have the money. 
And the people in town, you know, 
worship the golden calf. 

jPete. {Surlily.) Or the golden jackass 

Miles. What's the matter with you? 

Pete. Pool business — whole thing. 

Miles. We must get that cowboy 



40 THE HOR8ili THIEF. 

And when we do, put him where only 
the pines will whisper of his where- 
abouts. He is a cowboy and won't give 
up his horse. He is pretty sure to 
sneak back after it before going with 
Bardoan's daughter to camp. He has 
tied his horse to a tree and he'll come — 

Pete. And Bardoan with him. 

Miles. I tell you, Pete, he'll take a 
long chance for his tiorse. He'll sur- 
mise, that having been discovered, you 
will start out with the horses at once, 
and take his along. 

Jack, He may be hiding around here 
now. 

Pete. He may be in the cabin. 

[All draw pistols. 

Miles. We better get out of sight. 
We will watch awhile, and if he doesn't 
put in an appearance, you can start out 
with the horses. But I am sure he will 
take a chance, 

Pete. He's that kind. 

Miles. But, Jack, the girl— are you 
sure it was Bardoan's daughter? 

Jack. It was Helen Bardoan. 

Miles. I must get that cowboy! Jack, 

you go to tbe south side of the corral. 

[Exit Jack, R.U.E, 

Pete, you come with me. ' 

( Exeunt Miles and Pete, L. U,E, 

A pause - 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 41 

Enter Hal and Helen with 
raised pistols^ cautiously, L. — 
below cabin. Th»y talk in low 
voice. 

Hal. I thought, I heard voices. 

Helen. It is very quiet. 

Hal. Now . is my only chance. My 
hat is in the cabin, and my horse on the 
north side of the stockade. Stay right 
here while I make a dash for my hat. 

[Raises pistol, steals into cabin, gets 
hat and returns to Helen. 
I've got the hat. Now to get the horse. 
Perhaps, I ought not try that. It might 
be better we went to the camp at once 
and notified your father of what we 
have discovered. 

Helen. Papa's pet saddle-horse, Skip, 
is in the stockade. We must get him 
and take him with us. There is no one 
around. 

Hal. We better keep away from that 
corral. 

Helen. The horse thieves will Start 
for Wyoming as soon as they recover 
from their fright, and take Skip with 
them. It will take two hours, at the 
least, to find our camp and return. By 
that time the thieves will have vanished 
with the horses, and night coming on. 
We cannot trail them in the dark. 



42 THE HORSE THIEF. 

Papa could not bear to lose Skip. 

Hal. I don't like to lose Pony. 

Helen. There is a saddle and bridle 
at the stockade gate. We can get Skip; 
bridle and saddle him; thn)w op^n the 
gates; let the horses out, and away. 

Hal. It sounds good, and I would go 
in after your father's pet were it not for 
you. I am afraid to leave you alone a 
moment. The horse thieves may be 
hiding, and watching for our return. 

Helen, You got your hat. If the 
horse thieves had been watching, they 
would have rushed forth, or fired upon 
you. You stand at the stockade gate, 
and I will go in and get Skip. 

Hal, No, they may be hiding behind 
the stockade, and shoot you through a 
crevice in the rotting wall. 

Helen, I must have Skip. 

Hal. If I go into the corral and leave 
you outside, they may capture you and 
shoot me through a crevice in the wall. 
The wall would piHect them from my 
fire. If we both go icto the corral, so 
much the worse. If they are watching, 
or should come, we would be in a trap. 
Out here in the open, we can move and 
fight. 

Helen. {Desperately.) Can't we do 
Bomething? 
Hal, Yes. I can open the gate and 



THE HORSE THIEF. 43 

let the horses out. And really, I think 
that is the proper thing to do. The 
horses, most of them, will go back to 
their own range, providing the thieves 
do not round them up ag-ain before they 
get out of the timber. 

Helen. (Persistently.) They will move 
the horses as soon as we leave. 

Hal. I tell you, my girl, the further 
we keep away from that corral, and the 
quicker we get out of here, the better it 
will be for you^-the better for me. We 
must not separate. Whether I guard 
the gate and you go in, or you guard 
the gate and I go in, the risk is the 
same. If we keep away from that 
corral, the horse thieves will keep away 
from us. They want the horses. To 
move toward that corral is, to provoke 
attack 1 

Helen. 1 will stand at the gate with 
my pistol while you go in, slip the bridle 
on Skip and lead him out. We will 
then throw the saddle on Skip; open the 
gate and let the horses out; pick up 
your horse, and strike for camp. I will 
ride Skip. The other horses will follow 
him. You can follow and guard our 
retreat. 

Hal. 1 fear it cannot be done with 
safety. In fact," I am sure it can't. 
Helen. Come, I will point Skip out 



44 THE HORSE THIEF. 

to you. He has a heavy forelock and 
a single white spot on his breast. Come. 
[Hal hesitates. 
It will break papa's heart lo lose Skip. 

Hal. Better lose Skip than lose you. 

Helen. (Aside.) it canuot be possible, 
that such a manly fellow is one of the 
horse thieves, and wants to hold Skip! 
{To Hal.) Ltel me tell you, my friend, 
I am a frontier girl, and not afraid of a 
little mix-up. If any of those sneaking 
cowards should come while I guard the 
gate, the report of my pistol will tell you 
there is one less. I uever^waste a car- 
tridge. My bead is death. 

Hal. By George, girly. you got the 
nerve! I'll do as you say. But it 's 
risky — risky. 1 hope you ^will be able to 
plunk them. If you don't, we're gone. 
Say, — won't you let me kiss your hand, 
before I go? 

[Helen puts up her mouth. 
He kisses her^ 

Helen. That is for Skip. I never was 
so bold in my life before. But I can, at 
least, give you a kiss for what you have 
done for me, and what you are going to 
do for papa. 

Hal. I'd go into that corral now, if 
old death stood at the gate rattling his 
bones. Well, here we go for Skip. 
Keep your eyes open, and your pistol 



THE HOKSE THIKF. 45 



ready. 



[Hal and Helen move cautous- 
ly to stockade gate. Hal 
partly opens gate. Helen 
points to object inside. Hal 
enters stockade edging through 
gate. Helen closes gate and 
stands watchfully and guard 
edly, ivith pistol raised. Low 
whistle off, jK. Helen startled , 
gazes inteydly at R. Enter 
Pete, L.U.E. sneaking along 
stockade wall, hat down over 
eyes. Seizes Helen from be- 
hind, left hand over her mouth, 
his right grasping her pistol 
arm. Pistol goes off. Jack 
runs on, R.U.E, Wrenches 
pistol^ out of Helen's hand 
Bars gate. Pete and Jack 
drag Helen off, R. Hal, pistol 
in hayid, and ivithout hat, 
appears on wall over stockade 
gate. Enter Miles Corson, L.U. 
E. crouching close to stockade 
ivall, pistol in hand. Hal 
jumps to stage, falling and 
throwing pistol. Miles picks 
up club near gate and strikes 



16 THE HORSE THIEF. 

Hal on head with it. Hal 
drops and rolls over on back 
unconscious. Miles picks up 
lariaf^ and hinds Hal hand 
and foot. 

Miles. The maverick is roped! 

[Drags Hal into cabin. Closes 

door and secures it, taking key 

from above door and replacing 

it. 

Helen is in my power at last! And tiie 

boys will finish the maverick. Dead 

men tell no tales! 

[Picks up HaVs pistol. Gives 
low whistle. 

DROP-CUKTAIM. 



THE HORSE THIEF. 47 



ACT III. 

SCENE 1. The old stockade. Same 
as in act second. 

Helen discovered seated •n log, 
R. Her limbs are hound and 
her hands tied behind her. 

Heleu. Oh, why was 1 so raeh! But 
I must be brave. If my friend has es- 
caped, he will surely come to my rescue. 

Enter Jack and Pete from 
stockade. Pete in first stage of 
intoxication. 

Pete. Give me to drink one more. 
Jack. Not aliaother drop. You have 
had mWe than you ought to have 
already. 
Pete. Just one more. 
Jack. Not a drop! 

[Pete draws pistol and goes to 

cabin door. 

Jack. What are you going to do now? 

Pete. Shoot him. Boss is to give me 

hundred dollars. I want money. I 

want whisky. 

[Helen alarmed. 

Jack. Nonsense!. - 

Helen. (Aside.) He has not escaped! 



48 THE HOR8K THIEF. 

He is a prisoner and in that cabin. All 
hope is gone. 

Jack, Come away from that cabin. 
Wait till we start. 
Pete. Maybe better. 

[Puts up pistol. 
Jack. I'll ^o and gfet a bunch of the 
horses ready. 

[Picks up bridle and goes into 

stockade^ closing gate behind him, 

Pete advances to Helen. 

Pete. Hello! little wildcat, how you 

get 'long? Come to kiss pretty senorita. 

Senoritasay, no; senor me say, yes. 

[Throws arm about Helen. Helen 
screams. Jack Higgias comes from 
stockade on the run. 
Jack. What are you doing, you 
drunken brute! 

^urls Pete to C. 
Let me be what I may, I am still a man; 
and I am going to see, that this girl is 
treated like i, decent woman. Now you 
keep away from her. 

Pete. No whisky! No girl! Maybe 
you too smart. Big Jack. Maybe you 
want girl for yourself? 

Jack. {Advancing to Pete.) JLook 
here, Pete,* we're going to have no more 
fooling. You've had too much whisky. 
Take your horse and go over in the 
draw and get the dog-tent and coffee- 



THE HOKSE THIKP. 49 

pot. 

Petfe. Dam' dog-tent! Dam' coffee- 
pot! Go yourself. 

Jack. I've told you vvhab to do. Now 
go and do it. 

[Pushes Pete roughly. 
Pete. Ton push me! I settle you. 
[Draius pistol quickly and shoots 
Jack . Jack staggers, falls U. and 
dies. Helen sinks down on log. 
He's thiak he's too smart. Get some 
whisky now. 

[Takes bottle from Jack's pocket 
and takes long drink. 
Horse go to h — II Corson go to h — 1! 
Jack gone to h — 1. Mora whisky at gate 
in sack. To drink now I have plenty. 
[Drinks. Puts bottle in pocket. 
Draws knife and approaches 
Helen. 
Just to cut rope, 

[Cuts rope that binds Helen's limbs. 
Slips rope through Helenas belt and 
holds ends. She resists slightly. 
He threatens her with knife. 
Come. 

[Pulls her to feet by rope. 
Helen. {Aside.) I am lost. I will 
force him to kill me. 

[Pulls her by rope. She resists— 
holds back. 
Pete, {Roughly.) Count three— not 



50 THE HORSiii THIEF 



come— snoot. 

Puts knife in belt and draws pistol. 
ODe— two — 

[Helen follows. He leads her by 

rope, 
Muy bueno! better to live. Not so 
good to die. Come! 

[Leads Helen to stockade gate-, gets 

sack containing bottles, and leads 

her off stage, R. U.E. 

Enter Miles Corson, L.U.E. 

Miles. I heard a pistol shot. They 
may be making an early start. 

[Sees Jack's body 
What's this! It is Higgins! 

[Examtnes body. 
Shot dead! What has happened! 

[Runs to stockade, looks in, and 
then advances. 
The horses are all in the stockade. 

[Looks into cabin ivindow. 
The prisoner is still in the cabin. Can 
it be — Yes, I understand it all — Pete has 
shot Jack to get the whisky. 

[Hv.rries to R., and looks off. 
Pete drunk and Helen with him! My 
nerve is beginning to forsake me. The 
ice-cold hand of a horrible crime 
clutches at my heart. The only thing 
for me to do now is to extricate myself. 
I will turn the horses loose. 



THE HOUSE THIEF. 51 

[Startft for stockade. 

Enter Robert Bardoan and 
Kate O' Brian, L.U.E. Robert 
has rifle. 

Robert. Hello, Corson! You looking 
for Helen, too? 

[Sees Jack^n body. 
Js that man dead? 

[Examines Juckh body. 
Who shot this man? 

Miles. I did. He is- a horse thief. 
The other is bound and in the cabin. 
In that stockade are eleven of your 
horses. Uo look for yourself, 

[Robert hurries to stockade and 
looks in. Whinny of horse heard. 
Returns to Miles and Kate. 
Robert. You are right, Corbon. Those 
are my horses. Skip recognized me 
with a whinny as soon as I looked in. 
You have done good work, Corson. You 
are a man of courttge and quick action. 
Kate. Have you seen Helen? 
Miles. I have not. I fear something 
has happened to her. She may have 
fallen into the hands of the horse 
thieves. There may be more of them. 

Robert. We will make short work of 
them, if we find them. Let me see the 
scoundrel you have in the cabin. 



52 THE HORSiii THl£lF. 



. Miles. Yes, we will take a look at 
hiiD. .1 don't think 1 killed him, I 
knocked him down at the gate with a 
heavy popple stick 

[Goes to cSibin. Robert and Kate 
follow him. He gets key quickly 
from above cabin doer. Unlocks 
and opens door. 
Kate. {Aside.) By hivinsl he knows 
where they kape the kay. 

[Miles enters cabin and drags Hal 
out. HaVs face is covered with 
blood. 
Miles. Here is the horse thief in his 
war paint. 

Kate. Wait! I'll get some water and 
wash the blood off of his face. There 
may be some water in the cabin. 

[Exit into cabin. 
Robert. Young man, yon'll have to 
give a very honorable account of your- 
self, or there will be something doing, 
Hal. Who are you? 
Robert. 1 am Robert Bardoan, the 
owner of those horses in that stockade 
corral. They are all mine. 

Hal. I don't care whose horses they 
are. If they are yours, I am glad you 
have found them. 

[Enter Ka^,e from cabin with an old 
totvel and tin can of water. 
Kate. Here is the water and a towel. 



THE HOUSE THIEF. 53 

The towel 's not the clanest, but it's the 
bist they have iu this robber's rooet. 
Come, let me wash the blood from his 
face, and sal if he looks like a harse 
thaif. 

[Washes blood from HaVs face and 
head. 
{To Hal.) Your head is badly skinned. 
That was a hard rap his nibbs ^ave 
you. 

[Dries HaVs face with towel. 
{Aside,) He's a foine lookin' young man. ' 
My woman's instinct tells me, he's no 
harse thaif. Its my first impression, 
and I'll stay by it. 

Hal. That rope on my limbs has cut 
into the flesh. It hurts me unmerci- 
fully. 

Robert. You might as well get used 
to it. There may be more of it for you. 
Hal. No matter, only take off this 
one. 

Kate. Take it off, Robert. He's m 
awful misery with it. 

Robert. Take it off, Corson, an'd l^t 
him stand up. He'll not gwt away . 
I will see to that. 

[Miles removes rope from Hal's 
limbs. After considerable effort 
Hal rises to his feet . Glees Mile s 
a tremendous kiqk that sends him 
rolling to front of stage. 



5 4 THE HORSiJ^ _™I?^'-_ _ 

Hal. That's, what I've been waiting 
for all the afternoon. 

Kate. (Aside.) If he had the rope off 
of his airma he'd clane up the bunch. 
He's a darlingl 

[Miles ^scrambles to his feet ; draws 
pistol, and starts toward Hal. 
Kate steps in front of Hal. 
(Aloud.) Not yet, Mr. Corson. 

[Bar do an raises rifle. 
Mr. Bardoan, kape that rifle o' yours 
quiet. There may be a mistake. ^ This 
may not be a harse thief. 

Miles. He certainly is. 

Hal. And you are certainly a iiar, 

Kate. Put up that pistol, Mr. Corson, 
until you know more about this young 
man. 

Hf.l. Where is Miss Bardoan? 

Robert. Why do you ask? 

Hal. She was with me at the corrah 

Robert. With you! 

Hal Yes, sir, with me. If she is not 
here, you better release my hands, and 
let mfe go in search of her. 

[Sees Jack^s body. 
Dead! That is one of them. She is at 
the mercy of the other. Bardoan, if you 
love your daughter, and would save her 
from a horrible fate, take that rope off 
my hands. 

Miles. The scoundrel is trying to 



THE HOKSE THIKP. 5o 



deceive you, Bardoau. He is here; iJio 
horses are here; und, perhaps, your 
daughter is lying dead somewhere, the 
victim of hiB vile npsault. 

Robert. {Pereintorily .) Stand back, 
Kate.— You belter go to the corrai and 
look the horses over. There may be 
some of yours among them. 

IKate steps back reluctantly. 
Young man, your time has come. If 
you have anytliing to say, you better 
say it now, 

[Raises rifle. 

Hal. Are you going to shoot me, sir? 

Robert. Yes, I am going to shoot 
you, 

Hal. Let me step back from you. 

I am too close. You wiU liil my face 

with powder. 

[Backa toward nppf'r end of cabin 
and stops. 

Please let this good young woman 

loosen the clothes aroun'd my neck. 

Your shot may not kill me outright. 

I would like to have my neck free in my 

death struggle— while 1 am dying. 
Robert. Do as he requests, Kate. 
[Kate goes up in front of Hal, 
between him and Bardoan. Loosens 
HaVs shirt collar. IVhile she is 
doing this, Hal backs little by little 
above upper end of cabin. Kate 



56 THE HOR8i^ THIEF. 



raises her face as if to speak to him. 
He kisses her. She gives a slight 
scream, turns and faces Bardoan. 
Hal gives a spring and passes off 
stage around upper end of e ibia. 
Robert and Miles start for him, 
Kate screams and clings to Miles* 
pushing him in front of and a- 
gainst Bardoan. 
Kate. No use! No use! He's gone! 
He's gone! 

Miles. Let goof me! 
Kate. No use! He's gone. 
Miles. What the devil 'e the matter 
with you? Let go of mel He will 
feBcape. 
Kate. He has escaiped. 
Miles. {Breaking from Kate.) I'll 
get him! 

Kate, ^e might as well hunt for a 
chipmunk in a brush pile. 

Miles, {Aside.) The Irish hussy has 
helped him to escape. 

Roberti Did the thief hurt you, Kate? 
Kate. No, he didn't hurt^ me. 
Robert. What did he do to you? 
Kate. {Boldly.) He kissed me for 
his mother. 
SCENE 2. In the pines. 
Enter Sophronia and Willie^L. 
Willie has pistols. 
Sophronia. Willie, we are lost. What 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 57 

shall we do? 

Willie. Don't ask me. My wheel has 
stopped. 

Sophronia. Can't you find the way? 

Willie. Maybe if you would give me 
that cheuk, I might find the way to the 
bank. 

Sophronia Silly boy! Don't you 
know night is coming on, and that this 
dreadful forest is full of wild animals? 
What if a bear — 

[Crash as of breaking br^isli off, U. 
There is some wild creature now. 

Willie. {Sinking into Sophroniu^s 
arms.) Save me! 

Enter Hal on the run, R. 
Hands tied behind him. 

Hal. Thank aodl 

Willie. (Reviving.) That's what 1 say, 
if you know the countrv . 

Hal. Well, what I don'c know I'll 
guess at. 

Willie, We are lobt. 

Sophronia. liost but found! You 
dear, young man! 

^ [Embraces Hal. 

How can we repay you! 

Hal. By untying my hands. 

Sophronia, Who tied them? 

Hal. A horse thief. 

Sophronia. A horse thief! 



58 rrlE HORSili THIEF. 

Hal. Come, release ine. 
[Sophronia witk considerable effort 
releases HaVs hands. 
Good! I am free again. 

Willie. Are you a cowboy? 

Hal. Yes, a cowboy; What do you 
do for a living? > 

Willie. I sell milliDery goods for a 
Boston house. 

Hal. (Smiling.) 1 thought so. What 
brought you people here anyway? 

Willie. We came up after trout. 
Sophroniu caught a sucker. 

Hal. Are you with the Bardoans? 

Sophronia. Yes, and we are looking 
for Helen. t 

Hal. I am too. Young gentleman, 
I'll trouble you for those pistols. 

Willie. Take tliera and welcome. 
They have troubled me over since I took 
them from Sophronia. . 

[Gives Hal pistols. 

Hal. Any ammunition? 

Willie. ' Do you take me for a walking 
arBenal? 

{Hal smiles. 

Hal. (Aside.) Queer combination! 

[Examines pistols. 
Both loaded. It is a wondesr they didn't 
go off and kill one or the other of them. 
The horse thieves appeared to come 
from some place south of the corral. 



THE HOKSE THIBP. 50 



I'll strike for Ihat part of the compass. 
[Siartfi low ivdi (l. 
Sophronia, {Widi alirni.) You aiw 
not going to leave uk?'* 

Hal. Come — wo lauiil hurry. 

[TUvy harry <rff, R. 

SOiliNE 3. A sr.ii.ti open, ritvum— 

the draw, Oog-tertt, L. BiinU vul fire 

11, loith coj^'ea-pot han^jing oa cross 

stick. 

Enter Pete with fuck on fhonl- 
der L. leading Helen by rope. 
He is very drunk. 
Pete. Here's :<he tent and zhe coffee- 
pot. 
Helen. Ob, b3 oiercifulj 
Pete. -Nozzbia — love you — zhas all. 
Helen. If you lovo me, lelea.sj' nay 
hands. 
Pete. O-o-o'h, no! Yn\ too quick. 
Helen. The most, hurdeaed oH men 
are kind and good to llie vvonian th«-«y 
love. 

Pete. Dhaz zho. But znpy don'l let 
zhem get away. 

Helen. Release ino and my father 
will give you all tha hors^ts ia the block- 
ade, and say no more about it, 

Pete, l^orsa, no! liu-A Waal j^irl. 
Got her — hie — ^^keep her, 

[Drops stiek dyvn near trer, C. 
Make zhome cof — fee— hie— drink zhome 



oo«ee-teel better. y^^^s cojfee- 

tTtes Helen to ««'^ j^^^, j^jo 
pof/f.nt cross sUcKO»u 

« i„„ How'dark the world looks to 

""""• The horror ot my B>tuatK>a 
me now. ihe Qo .^^j, 

Beema to .mother me 
mvself— I 

ur,i T LE. Motions to 
ITn io\e'int. Heleoses 
?! She grasps hU arm, buries 

::.or:urtor stockade. 

«-".rMr""- the other 

Hal. Not hini, x s ^^^e. 

The one that scatterea my 

h:^" ---elre^re'-head. 
Hal. Yes, rapped me on 

iri ml settle with that «eatle- 

"aelea. Do you mean Gurson^ 

Slo^trhe-roneo. the horse 



THE HOKSE TH1EL^\ 61 

thieves. \ 

Hal. I saspicioQ9d as much. 6ul we 
must make for the stockade. I doa't 
want any pistol play with this fellow 
here at present. I probably would wing 
him, but hirf shot might catch you or 
drop me; then everything would be in 
bad shape agam. Your safety first, then 
to round up the horse thieves. "" 

Helen, He is very drunk. 

Hal. He'ii probably stay here then 
until I return. Gomel 

lExeiint Hal and Helen, L.U.E. 

Enter Fete, r(.. with, coffee-pot. 
Looks around' 

Pete. Where zhe girl? Zae Lrae izh 
here, but ziie giri ziie izti t;one, 

Idtuyyera off, U. with coffee-pot. 

Eater Sophroaia Simpson, 
L.L.E. 

Sophronia. Wnere is the dear youag 
manl dLe is so iiandsome! 1 oaa hnrdiy 
bear to be away from him a moment. 
I wonder if he h;is a sweetheart. 

Enter Pete with coffee-pot, R. 
Very drunk. Hat down over 
eyes. 

Pete. 1 got zno waz — hic — zha. 
bophroaia. There he is uow! 

{R.ushes to Pete and embraces him. 



62 THE HORSJji THIEF. 



I have found you at lastl 

Pete. Oh. well if you love me like 
zhat— all — all right. 

Sophronia. Good gracious! this is 
not the same man. 

[Pushes up Peters hat. Screams. 
It is another man — and he is drunk, 
Pete. Zhis noszh zhame gir — hie — el. 
Sophronia. {Aside.) lie may be a 
wealthy rancher. They always get 
drunk, I hear, when they go fishing. 
{To Pete.) You are not the same man, 
but still very delightful. Would you 
like to kiss me? 

Pete. Kizh you! — Yesh, if I can make 
it. Maybe I too drunk. 

Sophronia. {Aside) If he kisses me, 
I'll sue him for breach of promise, and 
send Willie back to his grandmother. 
{To Pete.) Kiss me if you want to, 

[Puts up mouth. Pete after many 
misses and staggers finally kisses 
her. 
Pete. {Spits,) Pah, old mackerel! {To 
Sophronia.) How iszh it to come zhat 
you change so quick? Where zhe rope? 
Sophronia. What rope? 
Pete. Zhe rope zhat had you picketed 
wiszh, 

Sophronia. You are drunk and think- 
ing of your horse. 
Pete. Horsze — no! Have girl tie fast 



THE HOK»E THIBb\ 63 

zhattree. Coino back -no «irl— tind 
old woman, P&hy (Spits) old tnacuerel! 
Sophronia. You black whiskered 
wretch, call me an old woman! 

[Jumps at him and pulls his beard. 
He backs down on fire, falls back- 
ward over cross stick spilling 
contents of coffee-pot over him 
Pete. Caramba! 
[Sophronia picks up rope, throws it 
over his neck, and holds ends. 
Pulls him to feet by rope. She takes 
pistol from his belt. 
Sophronia 1 shall take you to camp 
and sue you for breach of promise. 

[Leads him off, L. UE. by rope 
SUENE 4. In the pines. 

Enter Sophronia, R. leading 
Pete by rope, She has pistol. 
Pete. Where you go wizh me? 
iSophronia. To camp. 
Pete. I don' wan' zh' go to camp. 
Sophronia. Where would you like to 
go? 

Pete. To an-— hie -noztier state. 
Sophronia, You are already in a 
state of intoxication. 
Pete, I wan' to go to Wyoming. 
Sophronia, Is Wyoming very far 
from here? 
Pete. Jus' 'cross the line. 



G4 THE HORS±i THIEF. 

Sophronia. Well, you are too drunk 
to find the line, so I'll take you to camp. 
Pete. Diablo! 
Sophronia. Corae along! 

[Leads him off, L. 

SCENE 5. A spruce opening. 

Enter Hal and Helen, R. 

Hal- I begin to think that tnaa, 
Corson, is the brains oE tbe whole ras- 
cality. How fortunate you found hun 
out! 

Helen. To you I owe oay life aud 
honor. 

Hal. I may be a horse thief. 

Helen. I fear you have stolen more 
hearts than horses. 

Hal. Have I — pardon me 1— Come, 
there are anxious hearts waiting for you 
at the stockade. 

[Exeunt Hal and Helen, L,UM- 

Ent^r Sophronia, R- leading 
Pete by rope. She /la.s pistol. 

Pete. Zhay, are you a wood-chopper? 

Sophronia. A wood-chopper, you 
drunken idiot! 

Pete. I zhought you wazh a girl, 
but you're an old, old woman. (Spits.) 
Mackerel —pah! 

Sophronia If you are a horse thief, 
I'll have you hung. 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 65 

Pete. We'll have to build a fire. 

Sophronia. You'll find a fire waiting 
for you at camp. 

Pete. Do you know who I am? I'm 
Megxzhioan Pete. 

Sophronia. Well, I didn't take you 
for Peter the Great. 

[Drags him towards^ L. 
Pete. Hold on, I want to laugh. 
Sophronia. Wait till to-morrow, 

(Leads him off, L.U.E. by rope. 

DBOP-CURTAIW. 



66 THE HOR8iii THIEF. 



ACT IV. 

SCENE. The old stockade. Same as 
in act second. Jack^s body removed. 
Robert Bardoan and Kate 
O^ Brian discovered. Robert 
has rifle. 

Robert. I am distracted! 

[Walks up and down. 

Kate. I am worried meself. 

Robert, My daughter in the power of 
a vile horse thief! 

Kate. Helen is brave and will defind 
herself 

Robert. What to do or where to go I 
know not. 

Kate. The young man '11 find her. 

Robert. He's quite handy with him- 
self. I 

Kate. There's no doubt about that. 

Robert. That was a great kick he 
gave Corson. 

Kate. A broncho couldn't do better. 

Robert, He's quite handy with his 
lip, too, 

Kate. Indade, he's a handy lad. 
Maybe his name is Handy Andy. 

Robert. Where's Corson. 



THE HORSE THIEF. 67 

Kate. In the cabin. He's awful 
nairvous. 

Robert. He is worried about Helen. 
Enter Miles Corson from cabin. 
He is depressed with criminal 
fear. 

Miles. Robert, if you will let me have 
Skip, I will ride the country over in 
search of Helen. 

Kate. The young q;ian '11 find her; 
bring her back to her father, and prove 
himself a haro. 

Miles, fetuff! 

Kate. Mr. Corson, I never did have 
any confidence in you. You always 
appeared to me like an oily snake. 

Robert. Kate, what's the matter 
with you? 

Kate. Miles Corson is too anxious to 
convince you, that that young man is a 
scoundrel. There's a motive behind it, 
and one, I'm confident, there is no good 
in. 

Miles. Are you talking about me? 

Kate. Sure, I'm not talkin' about 
the weather. You can hear and under- 
stand what I say. 

Miles. You are expressing a very 
offensive opinion. 

Kate. In plain English, Miles Corson, 
do you know what I think of you? 



G8 THE HQR8E THIEF, 

Miles. I never inquired. 

Kate. Well, to save you that trouble* 
I'll tell you. I think you're a dirty, 
two-faced, deeaivin', yankee rasoal. And 
I tell you, Robert Bardoan, if you kape 
that man for a frind, you'll niver have 
m* for a wife. 

Robert. Then I'll have to give him 
up. 

Miles. {To Bardoan.) Will you let 
me have your horse? I will go back to 
town. 

Robert. Kate is an excellent judge of 
horses, and has a remarkable intuition. 
You better stay awhile. 

Miles. No— I feel that I ought to go. 

Robert. {Firmly.) You stay here. 

Enter Hal and Helen^ R.U.E. 

Kate. liookl Didn't I tell you I 
There she is, and there he is. 

[tiobert handt rifle to Kate and 
rushes to Helen. 

Robert. {Embracing her.) My poor, 
poor, little girl! 

Hal. I hope you will pardon me, Mr. 
Bardoan, for leaving you so abruptly. 
But here I am. You may now do with 
me as will. 

Robert, What have you to »ay, my 
daughter, 

Helen. {Pointing to Hal.) To that 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 69 

young man I owe my life and honor. 
{Pointing to Miles.) There stands the 
leader of the worst" gang of horse thieves 
that ever infested a country. 

Miles, There is some mistake. Bar- 
doan, your daughter is deluded. She 
always seemed unfavorable to our 
friendship. Liike most women, she is 
readily moved by a broad chest, and a 
few grand stand plays. If you want a 
, horse thief for a son in iaw, take him. 

Kate. How do you know he is « harse 
thaif? 

Miles. How do you know he is not? 
Helen is deluded. 

[Draws pistol and crosses to right 
front. 
Stand back, every one of you. If you 
shoot, I will shoot. All my shots count. 
If I go, one of you will go with me. 

Robert. Let' the young man give au 
account of himself. 

Hal. I have told my story to MiSs 
Bardoan, — how I came hero, and how I 
came to be asle-.^p in that cabin. 1 have 
no evidence that Gorson is a horse thief, 
but your daughter's word. My grievance 
with him is a personal one, which I wlil 
settle as soon as the proper moment 
presents itself. 

Miles. Why not now? 



70 THE HOR8iii THIEF. 

IRaises pistol. 

Hal. Very well. Come. 

[Draws pistol and starts for rear. 

Helen. {Grasping HaVs arm.) No, 
my friend, you might get shot. 

Miles. {Lowering pistol.) There, 
Bardoan, is the explanation. She is in 
love with the horse thief. 

Robert. Helen, I do not know what 
to say — what to think. There must be 
some mistake. Before we can accuse 
Mr. Corson, we must have positive evi- 
dence. We should not be carried away 
by feeling and suspicion. 

Enter Sophronia, R. U.S. lead- 
ing Pete by rope. She has 
pistol. Pete still drunk. 

Sophronia. I have captured a man. 
Helen. {Pointing to Pete.) There is 
the other horse thief. 

Pete. {Rousing up and snatching 
pistol from Sophronia.) Who says I'm 
a horse thief? 
Hal. {Raising pistol.) I do. 

[Pete, C.—back. 
Pete, Well, I am. 
[Sophronia runs to Helen and Kate, 
L. 
Sophronia. I captured a real horse 
thief. 
Pete. Yes, I am a horse thief. But 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 71 

I am not the only one. 

[Points to Miles. 

Pete. There is the bass of the whole 
gang — Miles Corson. The fool that 
brings Bardoan to tish up where is the 
place we have his horses cached. 

Miles. You are drunk. 

[Points to Hal. 
Don't you know that he is one of your 
gang? 

Pete. Know nothing of that kind. 
That is a strange cowboy. Where the 
devil he came from to know I do not. 

Miles. You traitorl You coward! 
lou liar! 

Pete. {Advancing towards Miles.) 
Who's a traitor! Who's a coward! 
Who's a liar! 

Miles. You are, you drunken greaser. 

Pete. 1 know you'll tight, Miles 
Corson — that I will admit. But you 
are a horse thief and a hypocrite. I am 
a horse thief too, but no hypocrite. Now 
you come on. — Any old thing goes with 
me. 

Miles. {Aiming pistol at Pete.) I'll 
kill you! 

[Works pistol — does not go off. 
My God! I forgot to load the pistol. 
{Aside.) I have only rifle cartridges in 
my belt. 

Pete. What comes to be the matter 



THE HORSi^ THIEF. 



with you? 
Miles. My pistol is unloaded. 
Pete. (Covering Corson with pistol ) 
Then throw up your hands and sur- 
render, and to jail go where you belong 
to. You're a fool too big to gather 
horses any more. My head it is clearer 
now. I see the beautiful daughter of 
Bardoin whose life to death and ruin I 
might have made, and the strauge lady 
who captured me when from the liquor 
I was too much in the intoxication. 
Miles. Listen man, whoever you are. 
Pete, Don't you know who 1 am? 

[ Threatens Miles with pistol- 

Miles. Hold! — but a moment, man. 

( Throws pistol down on stage. 

You see I am unarmed. Surely you will 

not shoot down an unarmed man for no 

cause — 

Pete. You skunk! 

Miles. Be patient man — be patient! 
I have money, but I value my life more 
than my money. Lower your pistol, 
spare my life, and I will give you ten 
thousand dollars and go with you until 
it is paid. You know I am an innocent 
man . 

Pete. I know that now, that though 
you got the cunning of the devil, you 
got a dog's heart and a coward's liver. 
[Threatens Miles with pistol. 



THE HORSE THIEF 73 

Miles. Don't fire— for God sake — 
think of the money, man, l.hink of the 
money ! 

Pete. To the devil's pot with your 
money, you trembling coward! If you 
to me was of a^Ilountain of gold to offer, 
it would not be to change me more 
than a mountain of sand. I am going 
to kill you. Miles Corsou, and these 
people won't interfere. 

IBardoan starts towards Pete. 
Kate pulls him back. 
I killed Higgins — and here you go to 
keep him company! 

[Aims pistol at Corson; works 
pistol, but it does not go off. 
What the devil- 
Miles. Your pistol is empty! Now 
we will see who is the best man. You 
are drunk; I am sober. 

[Rushes upon Pete- Pete throws 

pistol away and grapples with 

Miles. 

Pete. So you want a close hug with 

old bear, Mexican Pete? You are 

caught, you cunning fool. 

[Miles tries to snatch Peters knife 
from his belt- 
Oh, no! 

[They struggle. 
You ate close to death. Miles Corson. 
[Suddenly draws knife. Throws 



74 THE HORSHi rHIBb\ 

left arm about Miles neck. 
Closer— closer — 

[Draws Miles suddenly to him and 
stijibs him several times in baek. 
It 'e got youl 

[Throws Miles from him. Miles 
falls heavily near R,L,E. Pete 
flourishes knife. 
Mexican Pete was never captured by a 
man. but he .vas by a woman. 

Advances t9 Miles and looks down 
upon him. 
That settles him 

[Wipes knifs on bandana. 
No fool can win in the rogue business. 
He had of the cunning plenty, but not 
of the common sense. He was only a 
cunning fool. 

[Slips knife into sheath ; step» 6«tcfc 
and draws bottle from pocket. 
There''^ some left. 

[Holds up bottle. 
Here is to Senorita Bardona and to that 
quick young fellow who is rescue her 
from the horse thief. 

[Drinks. 
H*re is to Senor Bardona whose horse 
we did not get. 

[Drinks, 
Here is to the Horse Queen of Elk creek. 
Kate. Drink hearty! 

\Pete drinks, throws bottle off 



THE HORSE THIEF. 75 

rights and picks up pistol . Backs 
slowly up stage slipping cartridges 
into pistol while talking. 
Pete, it is that I bave my horse 
tied to a place above the corral. It is 
time I should bring hitn to water. I am 
of many thanks to Senor Bardona and to 
the young Seoor, the vaquero, that you 
have not come to prevent me when it 
was that I should smliIh with Corson. 
T» remain would give me of pleasure, 
but of that you must excuse me, for I 
have important business in Wyoming. 
IBeport of rifle at distance off^ R. 
Pete glances to R., and dashes off 
stage, L.U.E, 
Bardoan. What, now! 
Kate, It may be the sheriff. 

Sheriff Oranson and posse rush 
on, H.U.E, 

Bardoan. It is the sheriff — and a 
posse ! 

Sheriff. Hello, Bardoan I How do 
you do, ladies. 

{Touches hat. 
We are out after horse thieves. We 
captured part of the gang, below. One 
of th«m gave up the combination. He 
led us to a corral in the Bald Hills. 
There we picked up two more of the 
gang, and fqund seven of the Queen's 



7(3 THE HORSjbi THIEF. 

horses in the corral. I sent them baek 
to >our ranch, Kate. They were a tine 
bunch. 

Kate. Sure, you're the right raan for 
your place, Tom Granson, There is no 
long hair and chape gun play about 
you. 

[Hal steps forward and gazes at 
sheriff with interest. 

Sheriff. You muRt he a friend of 
mine, Kate. 

Kate. So I am— and of ivery other 
man in this country who has th' courage 
and the manhood to face fche powerful 
villany of the range and do his duty. 

Sheriff. Well, to continue my story — 
The thief that led us to the Bald Hills 
corral said there was more of the gang; 
that they had another corral up at the 
old stockade near the Wyoming line. 

Bardoan. This is the place. There 
are eleven of my horses here. 

Sheriff. The thief also declared that 
a certain wealthy and prominet man of 
this county was secretly connected with 
the gang and had been working with it 
ever since he came into the country. 
He said, that while he knew of the fact, 
he did not know who the man was. — 
That he was known only to certain 
leaders of the gang. Have you seen any 
horse thieves up here? 



THE HOKSE THIBb\ 77 

Kate. Yes, sir, we saw all three of 
thim. One of thim killed the other two, 
and thin struck out for Wyoming. 

Sheriff How long ago? 

Kate. Long enough, that no man 
could catch up with hini unless he had 
wings. 

Sheriff. Well, I haven't any wings. 
Who was the fellow that did the killing? 

Bardoan. He called himself Mexican 
Pete. 

Sheriff. Bad man I I have had sever- 
al calls for that scoundrel dead or alive. 
Where are the thieves the Mexican 
killed? 

Bardoan. One is in the cabin; the 
other over there. 

[All advance to Cor son's body. 

Sheriff. Why, it is Corson! I tell you, 
Bardoan, I have been suspicious of that 
gentleman for some time. But he was 
too firmly intrenched behind the wall of 
organized and private interest to tackle 
him on suspicion alone. 

Bardoan. I am convinced of his ras- 
cality. It is certain he was an accom- 
plice of the gang. 

[Bardoan and Sheriff converse 
aside. 

Sheriff. Did you see the Mexican 
finish him? 

Bardoan. Yes, we all saw it. 



THE HORSE THIBB\ 



Sheriff. Did Corson show the white 
feather? 

Bardoan. He offered the Mexican ten 
thousand to spare his hfe. 

Sheriff. That settles it — he is guilty. 
There is alwEjys cowardice in the blood 
of a knave, and he will show it when it 
comes to the test. The man who does 
not show it is never morally guilty. He 
is either the victim of circumstances or 
the unconscious instrument of extenu- 
ating causes. Let the evidence be what 
it may, at heart, I am always that man's 
friend. I never condemn a man for not 
knowing what he cannot know, or for 
not having what he cannot possess. 

[ Wildcat Jake in loud voice outside^ 

i2.:"Uome along and shut up, or 

I'll fill you so full of lead they kin 

sell you fer junk" Sheriff runs up 

stage and looks off. R.U.E. 

Sheriff. {To posse.) Here comes that 

Wildcat Jake! I thought I had lost him. 

The fool 'fired into that dog-tent before. 

I could stop him. He might have killed 

an innocent person, Had there been 

any horse thieves around his shot would 

have warned them of our presence. He 

crowded into the posse — but I've made 

up ray mirXd what to do with him. He 

was Corson's man, Friday. I have a 

strong suspicion that he is connected 



THE HOKSE THIEb\ 79 

with the gang, and serving them as a 
spy. I shall act on my suspicion. 

Enter Wildcat Jake leading 
Willie by collar, R.U.E. Jake 
is an old time specimen of 
frontier '■'had man.''' Has long 
hair, and spread out mustache 
and beard. Has rifle in hand, 
and boivie knife and two pistols 
in belt. Belt is filled with car- 
tridges. 

[Fosse crowds around them. 

Wildcat Jake. Look here, Sheriff, 1 
found this feller holierin' an' runnin' 
around in the timber like he didn't 
know where he wuz. I stole up on him 
and held him up with my ritie, 1 though t 
it might be a horse thief. But as soon 
I saw him I knew it was that feller from 
Boston. As soon as he saw me he tore 
'round like he wuz loony. I thought 
mebbe he wuz one of them eujoniks 
wot's bin in an asylum and wuz out of 
dope, so I brought him in. 

Sheriff. Well, you drop that young 
man from Boston. 

[Wildcat Jake releases Willie^ 
Willie runs to Sophronia. 

Sophronia. Why, it is Willie! 

Sheriff. {Seizing Wildcat Jake bi/ 
collar.) You come with me, Wildcat. 



'80 THE HORSili THIEF. 

I've had all of your nonsense and offi- 
ciousness J want. {T& one of the posse.) 
Here, Brown, relieve this gentleman of 
his hardware, 
. {One of the posse takes from Jake 
his rifle, bowie knife, pistols, and 
belt of cartridges. 
Wildcat Jake. Why, Sheriff, what's 
the matter? What hev I done? What 
are you goin' to do with me? 

Sheriff. I haven't quite made up my 

^mind. When I have, I'll let you know. 

Come, I have something to show you. 

[Walks hurriedly to Mile's body, 

pulling Wildcat Jake along by 

collar. 

There's a friend of yours. 

[At sight of Miles, Wildcat starts 
and cowers with criminal con- 
sciousness. 
There is another friend of yours in the 
cabin, ' v 

[Jerks Wildcat along over to cabin 
door. Opens door. 
You go in there, and you'll stay in there 
until I call for you. 

[Thrusts Wildcat roughly into 
cabin. 
Gome, men, we'll put Mr. Corson in with 
his friend. 

[Posse piek up Corson tmd put him 
in cabin. 



THE HOKBE THIEF. 81 

Vic, you guard that door. If Wildcat 
attempts to come out, shoot him. 

[One of posse steps to door, salutes 

Sherijf, and guards door. Sheriff 

notices Hal. 

Who ia that young man? I don't know 

him. (To Hal — sharply.) Where are 

you from, sir? 

Hah Prom Wyoming. 

[Helen steps up close to Hal . 
Sheriff. What is your name? 
Hal. Hal Halpin. 
[Kate, Robert, Sophronia, and 
Willie advance to Hal and Helen. 
Sheriff. {In gentler voice.) Hal 
Halpin 1 Why, — you are not Mary Hal- 
pin's son? 

Hal. Mary Halpin is my mother's 
name. Her maiden name was Mary 
Granson. Here is her picture. 

[Opens locket on watch chain and 
ahow& Sheriff. 
Sheriff. {Grasping HaVs hand.) Why, 
boy, you are my sister's son. 

[Bardoan and Kate converse aside. 

Bardoan The young man is all 

right — just as you said, Kate. You seem 

to know at sight. 

Kate. Sure, I'm a mind raider. 

Hal, Mother has often written me 

about my uncle Tom in the Black Hills, 

Several times I have determined to,come 



82 THE HORiSlli THIEF. 

over aad hunt you up, but eonieihiog 
intervened each time to prevent rae. 

Sberifif. How do you happen here? 

Hal. I am on my way to the old 
home down in Iowa. Last ni^ht I 
wandered off the trail somehow and 
about noon^to-day struck this place. 

Sheriff. How long have you been in 
Wyoming? 

Hal. About ten years. When but a 
mere boy, I started west to find you. but 
drifted into Wyoming and have been 
there ever since. 

Sheriff. Well, you have found me, 
Hal, and you better remain with me. 
Your aunt will be rejoiced to have you 
with us. We have no children. 

Hal. Have you met this young lady, 
uncle? Tnis is Miss Bardoan. 

Sheriff. {Shaking Helen's hand.) 
Helen and I are old friends. 

Hal. She was captured by ihe horse 
thieves. 

Sheriff. You don't say ! 

Helen. Yes, but I was rescued by 
your nephew. But for him, I was lost. 

Sheriff. Is that sol 

lSl(ji,ps Hal on shoulder. 
Why, boy, you 'r a hero I Helen must 
tell me all about it. 

yTurns to posse. 
We will camp here to-night, men. Two 



THE dOKSE rHlbiB\ S3 

of you go over the hill and get that 
dog-tent and the coffee-pot. 1 will call 
up the rest of the posse with the 
horses and pack. 

• [Posse retires up stage, two exeunt 

R.U.E. Sheriff walks half up stage 

and with back to audience fires 

three shots in air from pistol. 

Sheriff. (Turniag.) Come, Bardoan^ 

we will go to the corral and look the 

horses over. The rest of the posse will 

soon be here with the horses and packi 

Bardoau. Just a moment Sheriff. 

Halpiu,>ou and Willie better start back 

with the ladies to our camp. Helen will 

find the way. She is sure on ground 

she has once been over. I will follow 

shortly. 

\Exeu7it Hal, Helen, Sophronia, 
and Willie, L.L.E. 
Kate. {Lingering.) I'll have a hot 
cup 'o coffee for you, Robert. 
Bardoan. Thank you, Kate. 
[Exit Kate L.L.E, Bardoan joins 
Sheriff. 
Sheriff. Where have the folks gone? 
Baadoan. To my camp on the creek. 
Sheriff. Very good! It will soon be 
dark. 

[Exeunt Sheriff, Bardojin, and all 
of posse, except guard at cabin, 



84 THE HORSE THIEP. 

into stockade closing gate behind 
them. Lights slightly lowered as 
of approaching twilight. Guard 
paces up and down befor cabin. 

DROP-CURTAIN. 



THE HOUSE THIEP. 85 



ACT V. 

SCENE. Same as scene in act first 
with the following changes: teat re- 
moved and all other properties of the 
camp except camp fire, R., several camp 
chairs, coffee-pot, frying-pan and box 
with some dishes on it. Camp fire 
burning; coffee-pot and frying-pan 
close to fire; camp chuirs around fire; 
box with dishes on rear of fire. 

Robert Bardoan discovered 
seated in camp chair near 
camp fiire reading a news- 
paper and smoking a cigar. 

Robert. This is the tirst newspaper 
I've had for a week. The Sheriff gave 
it to me. And t.o find out that young 
man is his nephewl What if Ihad shot 
the boy? K must try and forget that. 
But for Kate, 1 would have done it. By 
heavens, I'll wear shamrocks for the 
rest of my lifel 

Enter Sheriff Oranson, R. 

Sheriff. Good morning, Bardoan! 
Robert. {Rising and advancing to 
meet Sheriff.) Good morning. Sheriff! 



86 THE tiORSl?: THIEF. 

Sheriff. I have sent all your horses, 
except Skip, down to your ranch. I 
wish you would let me have Skip for 
a few days. My horse is completely 
fagged. 

Robert. Take him, Sheriff, with 
many thanks for the service you have 
renderd me and the county. 

Sheriff. There is a fellow just over 
the Wyoming line I want. They call 
him Old Prenchie. He is sort of a brand 
artist. I have a scheme to decoy him 
over the line into this state, if the 
Mexican hasn't warned him. Once in 
Dakota, he's my bird. It may take me 
a few days. Wildcat Jake weakened 
about midnight and confessed his com- 
plicity. He said: ''He didn't mind goin' 
to jail, but that it was agin his nater to 
live in a morgue." So I toolc him out. of 
the cabin, gave him a big feed and about 
daylight sent him to town with ray 
deputy and a couple of the posse. 
Well, I must return to the stockade. 

{Goinc/. t/ien returning i 
Say, Bardoan, I am impressed Hal is 
struck with Helen. 

Robert. That 's generally the way, 
Sheriff. A fellow rescues a girl, then 
marries her. {Aside.) I'm d — d glad he 
he didn't rescue Kate. 

Sheriff. Helen will make the boy a 



TtiK HUKSE THIEF. 87 

noble wife. Well, good-b)'! I will be 
with you in a few days. 

[Exit Sheriff, E. 

Robert, b^ineiuaa! tial is very much 

like him. hJlood ivill tell. There's no 

mistake aoont that. Asorub 'ts a scrub, 

in the house or m the corral. 

Enter Hat Halpiu, L. 

Hal. I have fed the wa^joa norses. 
Everything is ready for the move. 

Etobert. Weil., we'll atari out after 
dinner. 

Hal. i'he ivlexioau took my tioise. 
I'll have to ride to town with you. 

Robert. iVly friend, 1 have a propo- 
sition to make to you. J need a good 
foreman, and if you care to remain with 
us, tne place is opeu fo you, 

Hal. I did think, i'd quit the range. 
Not because i naven't done well ou 
the range, but because I've grown tired 
of living so mucu alone. Guesa I've 
grown tired oi my o^a company. How- 
ever. 1 have saved my money and made 
good aeais. ± nave a tuourf^md doii.trs 
in cHiU iQ iuy OdlL, aud foar moadaiia 
dollars lu uegotiaole paper, i nave uo 
need to hunt a job, out you may put me 
down for yours. 

Robert Young man, my gratitude to 
you for what you have done for me and 



THE HORSJi: THlEt^ 



mine, caQoot be expressed in words. 
Is there anything in the world lean do 
for you. 

Hal. (jrive me your daughter. 
[Robert stares at Hal for a moment, 
then throws away cigar. 
I may appear a little previous in this, 
but that is my way. I am plain and 
direct in whatever I do. 

Robert, Win her and she is yours. 

Hal. Thank you! I hope I shall 
succeed in winning her regard — her 
love. 

Robert. I am impressed, that you 
are inclined to play the sure game. 

Hal. That's the way I made my 
money. 

Robert. Very good; and it gives me 
pleasure and happiness to think of you 
as a son. 

Hal. Thank you. Your daughter is 
the grandest, bravest, noblest girl in the 
world. 

Robert. She has found her kind. 

Hal. I am of the range. 

Robert. Yes, (Grasps HaVs hand.) 
and one, I believe, who has all the 
virtues of the range and none of its 
vices.— A gentleman of the hat and 
spur. 

Hal. Thank you again, sir. Helen 
is waiting at the wagon. 



TKili HO K8E THIEIJ\ 89 

[Exity L 
Robert. There's matrimony in the 
air, I am in the humor of it myself. 
I'll rope Kate to-day or quit the range. 

Enter Kate O'Brian. L. 

Kate. Everyt.hing is ready, tiobert. 
to move for town. 

Robert. We'll start after dinner. 

Kate. You don't seem to be in any 
hurry. 

Robert. Oh, I take the world easy. 

Kate. An' how does the world take 
you? 

Robert. I guess in the same way. 

Kate. You 'r quite a guesser. Can 
you guess what is next on your 
calendar? 

Elobert. My wedding. 

Kate. What put that idea into your 
cauliflower? 

Robert. What you said yesterday at 
the stockade. 

Kate. I said a whole lot of things at 
the stockade, yesterday. To which of 
my sayings do you particularly refer? 

Robert. You said if I did not discard 
Corson, you would never become ray 
wife. 

Kate. Well, what of it? 

Robert. I inferred from that remark, 
that if I did discard him, you would 



90 THE HORBili THIEF. 

become my wife. Was my inference 
correct? 

Kate. {Confused.) Yes, Robert. 

Robert. Will you be my wife, Kate? 
[Throws arm about Kate. 

Kate. Yes, Robert. 

Robert. I had an intuition anyway, 
Kate, that you had made up your mind 
to become my wife. What do you think 
of my intuition? 

Kate. It may be very good iu respict 
to women, but it is very poor in respict 
to harse thaives. 

Robert. I've thought for quite a- 
while we ought to be married. 

Kate. And I've been suspicious for 
quite awhile, that you had designs upon 
my comfort and paice of mind. 

Robert. Why, Kate, you'll be com- 
fortable with me. 

Kate. Well, if I'm not, you'll be very 
uncomfortable with me. 

Enter Hal and Helen, L. 

Helen. {Laughing.) Mammal 
[ Robert and Kate startled. Robert 
steps quickly to, R. 
Kate. Yes. Helen, I am goin' to be 
your mamma. 

Helen. {Hugging Kate.) My dear, 
dear Kate! 
Kate. {Hugging Helen.) My own 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 91 

darlin' girrell I'd marry your father, if 
for no other raisoD but to be near you. 

Robert. Well, get the rods Kate, and 
we'll go up stream and catch some tish 
for dinner. I have an intuition that 
these young folks would like to visit by 
themselves for awhile. 

Kate. (Going.) You're getting quite 
intuitive, Robert. 

Robert. {Taking off hat.) Ah, Kate, 
I can see ahead. 

Kate. So can I, 

[Glances at Robert* s head. 
But there's nothin' in it. 

[Runs off, L. 

Robert. I'll get even with her for 
that. 

[Puts on hat. 

Enter Kate L, icith fishing- 
rods. Throws rods down L. 
Selects rod for herself and goes 
up on bridge and fishes off left 
of bridge 

Kate. Come, Robert. 

Robert. Good- by, Helen. 

[Kisses her. 
My own dear, little daughter! All 
right, now. — And so happy! I hope you 
and Hal will be able to entertain each 
other. 

Helen. I hope you and Kate will 



92 THE HORSiii THIEF. 

catch some fish 

[Robert gets fishing-rod, L. 
Robert. Kate and I are good fishers. 
Kate. I've caught a sucker already 1 
Robert. The deuce you have! 
Kate. (Holding up fish.) This is 
is number two. 

[Laughs . 
Sophronia caught number one. 

Robert. {Crossing bridge.) Come on, 
or I'll send for the conductor. 
Kate. Or the milkman. 
Robert. Sure!— We may need him. 
[Runs from bridge towards right. 
Kate follows whacking him with 
rod. He dodges and runs off, R. 
Kate follows him laughing and 
flourishing rod. 
Helen. You will go to the ranch with 
us? 
Hal. Yes. 

Helen. And work for papa? 
Hal. I did intend to leave the range. 
Helen. But you won't? 
Hal. No — I don't want to leave you. 
Helen. I see no reason why you 
should. I want you to stay. 

Hal. My dear girl, in spite of our 
short acquaintance, w© have been quite 
free in expressing our appreciation of 
each other. 
Helen. Why not? 



THE HOKSE rHIEb\ 93 

Hal* I may not prove to be the man 
your grateful heart has pictured to your 
mind. 

Helen. My heart has never yet de- 
ceived me. 

Hal. I am a simple cowboy. I am 
strong of body, stout of heart, and true 
of purpose, but my mind has had but 
little cultivation. It is true I have read 
much, thought much, but to what real 
gain to my character and understanding, 
you will have to be the judge. 

Helen. My mother died at my birth. 
Since then I have been under the care of 
my grandmother, my father's mother. 
She has lived with us ever since we came 
to the ranch. A teacher herself, and 
a woman of high character and intel- 
ligence, she has taught and guided me 
in the ways of knowledge and truth. 
Aside from this, I have grown up on the 
range, and am of the range. Experience 
and familiarity with danger have taught 
rqe some things which could have been 
learned in no other school. 1 know the 
true manhood of the range, and that 
you possess it. The instant I recog- 
nized it in you, it was impossible for me 
to conceal the interest and regard it 
awoke in me for you. 

Hal. I am happy in your favorable 
opinion. What do you say, we set aside 



94 THE HORSE THlfiF. 

all parlor preliminaries, and be as if we 
had always koowo oneaootber? 

Helen. When we know; to wait, to 
hesitate, to talk, is mere formality. 

Hal. Shall we set it aside? 

Helen. I am willing. 

Hal. The divine purpose of man's 
love for woman, woman's love for man, 
is marriage. 

Helen. I do not want to part with 
you. 

[Slips her arm in his. 

Hal. I do not want to part with you. 
[Raises arm around her neck. 

Helen. Then we better not part. 

[Drops head on his shoulder. 

Hal. Will you be my wife. 

Helen. Yes, dear. 

Hal. And we'll be married soon? 

Helen. Yes, dear. 

[Hal kisses her. 

Hah There I I think we've quite 
disposed of all formality. 

Enter Kate and Robert from R. 
over bridae. 

Kate. She has captured the harse 
thaif. 

[Helen and Hal startled^ turn. 
Don't let us interrupt you. 

Hal. How many fish did you two 
catch? 



THE HOUSE THIEF. 95 

Robert. Not a trout. 

Hal. That 's what I thought. Come, 
Helen, you and I will try our luck. 

Helen. Here are the rods. 
[Hal and Helen get fi$hing-r0d»j L, 
liy-by, papal 

Hal. {Qoingr-waving hand to Kate.) 
By-by, mammal 

Kate. {Laughing and shaking her 
rod at him.) You thaif 1 

[Exeunt Hal anrf Helen over bridge^ 

Robert. We might as well start din- 
ner. 

Kate. Yes, Robert, they'll soon be 
back. 

[Robert and Kate buay themeelvee 
getting dinner. They take food 
out of b0x. 

Robert. The lish don't seem to bite 
to-day. 

Kate. {Slapifaoe.) But the flies do. 

Robert. Kate, I beliere Hal has 
proposed to Helen, 

Kate. No doubt. 

Robert. I'm mighty glad be didn't 
propose to you. 

Kate. I am, too. 

Robert. Would you have accepted 
him, Kate? 

Kate. Of course not! I couldn't 
marry both o' you. 



96 THE HOR8iii THIEF. 

Robert. I never thought of that. 

Kate. There's a whole lot of things 
you never thought of. 

Robert. What do you suppose, (bran- 
ny, will say when she hears of all this 
matrimony? 

Kate. Poor Kate! 

Robert. Nonsense! 

Kate. Well, I hope she'll be plaised. 

Robert. Why, Kate, she loves you 
more than I do, and I've nearly lost my 
appetite thinking how I love you, 

Kate. I suppose you call that a 
lover's appetite you had at brickfast 
this mornin'? You ate twilve throut; 
four slices of bacon, a foot long; half a 
loaf of bread; and drank three cups of 
coffee. If you call that a sintamintal 
appetite, God hilp the woman that cooks 
for you whin you get back to your 
rigular feed. 

Robert. You are a bird! 

[Shakes with laughter, 

Kate. Well, I'm no camp-robber. 

Robert. Why, here 's that souvenir 
spoon of mine! 

[Takes large iron spoon from box 
and advances to Kate with spoon 
in hand. 
Kate, when you gave me this spoon, I 
knew I'd won. 

Kate. Yes, you'd won but I'd lost. 



THE HQ KSE THIKB\ 97 

Kobert. No, Kate, we bolh won. It 
is a game ia wuich both win if played 
according to the rules of providence. 

Kate. Maybe you *r right, Robert. 
Anyway, it 's a game I niver played 
before. 

Robert. How about the conductor? 

Kate. A joke— forget it. 

Robert. Ah, Kata, we'll be very 
happy together. 

[Puts arm around her luuist. 
We'll live smiling on each other. 

Kate Yes, Robert, like two sun- 
flowers in a gairden. 

Robert. Oli, you are so full of spirits! 

Kate. I take after me granfather. 
He was so full o' shpirrits, he died. 

Robert. Well, I'd 'a' dieJ, Kate, if I 
hadn't 'a' won you. 

Kate. Died laffiu 

Robert. Ob, plague take you! 

Enter Sophronui Simprm and 
Willie Wym from L. over 
briage. They have fishing rods 

[Robert still has arm around 
Kate^s waist. 
Sophronia. {Pointing to Robert and 
Kate.) Look, Willie! How lovely! 
[Robert and Kate startled, turn. 
Robert. Get any trout? 
Willie. Not one. 



98 THE HOR8J1. THIEF. 

Robert. Didn't catch anything? 
Willie. Yes, I caught my breath 
several times. 
Robert. (Laughing.) But no fish? 
Willie. No; the fish seemed ashamed 
to look us in the face. 

Kate. An' why, Willie? 

Willie. Because— Oh, well! — Sophro- 
nia and I are to be married. 

Sophronia. ^ es, Willie and I are 
going to b» married day after to-morrow, 
and start on our honeymoon. And 
then honey, honey, all honey. 

Willie. (Aside.) Pooh, molasses — 
all molases! I am a poor little fly stuck 
fast in the fly-paper of matrimony — 
three shedts for a nickle. It is just 
terrible what a man will endure for 
money ! 

Sophronia. Do you talk in your 
sleep, Willie? 

Willie. No, but I sleep sometimes 
when I hear other people talk. 

Sophronia (Ecstatically.) To think, 
we will be married day after to-morrowl 
Kate, when are you and Robert to be 
married? 

Kate. Ask Robert. 

Robert. Kate and I will be married 
as soon as we get to town . I shall greet 
my grand old mother at the ranch, this 
time, with a wife. 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 99 

Willie. Say, Robert, you marry 
Sophronia, and let me marry Katy. 
You'd marry me, wouldn't you, Katy? 

Kate. Yes, Willie, if I had nothing 
else to do. 

Robert. {LauQhing.) There'll be no 
swapping, sonny. I've won the Horse 
Queen of Elk creek and I shall keap her. 

Sophroaia. Robert, yon are happy; 
Kate is happy; I am happy, and Wihie is 
happy. 

Willie. False! False I I am on the 
verge of suicide. 

[StarU towards H. 

Sophronia. {Alarmzd.) Where are you 
going, Willie? 

Willie. Insane. 

Sophronia. Insane, Willie! 

Willie. Yes, insane! I see things 
crawling all over iha grjun J. and the 
air is full of stuffed bluabirdi. E^rery- 
thing loak3 lik.^Siotoh pi lid, and I feel 
a horrible appetite cjmin^ oa ma for 
beer and pig's feet. 

Sophronia. Willie, Willie! What shall 
I do! 

Willie. Give me that check for a 
thousand. It is the only thing that will 
save me. 

Sophronia. You shall have it, love, 
just as soon as we are married. 

Willie. {Aiide.) I ean't get away. 



100 THE HORSiii THIEF. 



Sophronia. Where is Helen? 

Kate. Up the straim with that young 
harse thaif. 

Sophronia. Is she going to marry 
him? 

Kate. No; he's going to marry her. 

Willie. That 's the way it is, Katy, 
with Sophroaia and me. I am not going 
to marry her; she is going to marry me. 

Sophronia. Willie, talk sense. 

Willie. How can I? I haven't any 
to talk. 

Sophronia When we are married 
you will know I am your wife. 

Willie. No— no! I won't know any- 
thing. 

Sophronia. No need to. You shall 
forget everything in the joy of my love. 

Willie. That Scotch plaid is coming 
again! 

Kate. Come, Robert, boil the coffee. 
[Robert pats coffee-pot on fire. 
Helen and that thaif of a cowboy '11 
soon be back. I don't suppose, he'll 
catch anything but a shtrong appetite 
for dinner. 

Robert. Well, the coffee 's on. 

[Kate takes apron from boxx 

Kate, Well, put on this apron and 
slice the bacon while I get the throut. 
[Robert takes off coat, puts on 
apron, endeavoring to tie strings. 



THE HOKSE THIEF. 101 

Sophronia, you cau look these service 
berries over. 

[Getapail of berries and pan out of 
box and gives them to Sophronia. 
Robert. Kate, 1 wish you'd tie these 
aproa strings. I can't make it. 

[Kate ties apron strings for Robert. 
Kate. Sure, man. it 's a long ways 
around you. 

Robert. I am rather full in the 
the waist. 
Kate. A rigular Anheuser., 
[Robert winks at audience and 
shakes with laughter. 
Sophronia. Come, Willie, help me 
with the berries. You can hold the pan. 
[Willie and Sophronia get camp 
chairsy sit left and busy themselves 
with berri&s. Kate goes to tank 
for fiah. Robert takes slab of 
bacon from box and proceeas to 
slice it, laying slices on a tin piate, 
Sophronia. Now, Willie, you hold 
the pan in your lap and I'll put the 
berries in it as I look them over. Do 
you like berries, Willie? 

Willie. Yes, with plenty of cream on 
them. I am very fond of cream — ice 
cream. Oh, T could live on cream! 
When you give me that check, I will 
buy a small cow and we'll take her 
^with U8 on our wedding trip. 



102 I'dE aOHciii. iillhib'. 

[Sophrouia stares at Willie with 
alarm.. 
The Batf^'age Man can f«»ed her and the 
breakman inilk her. The pifj'e feet we 
oan take m the sleeper with us. 

Sophronia. Why, Willie, what is the 
matter with you? 

Willie. My uainti is waadermt^ again. 

JiJophionia. (Sharply.) Is there insan- 
ity in your family? 

Willie. Yes, my stepfather died m an 
asylum, f don't think I ought to 
marry. 

Sophronia. Oh, you'll be all right 
after we are married. 

Willie. {Aside.) No use! I can't get. 
iivvay. 

Enter Hal and Helen R. over 
bridge. Without fishing-rods 
J'hey pduse on bridue. 

Robert. Heilof What luck? 

Hal. Not a tish. 

Robert. I thought you wouldn't get 
any. J didn't. 

Hal. 1 don't belie v* there's a tisb in 
the creek. 

Robert. Seems like it, to-day. 

Helen. Why, papa, who put that 
apron on you? 

Robert. Kate. I'm chief cook aod 
bottle washer. 



THE dOKSE THlhiF. 103 



[Kate advunces with pan of trout. 
Kate. {To Hal and Helen.) Where 
are your fisb? 

Hal. We haven't caught them yet. 
Kate. Ah-ha! An' your fish-poles, 
where are they? 

IHelen looks at her hands and then 
* at Hat. 

Hal. Why — er — er — we loaned thetn 
to a couple o' fellows up the creek. I 
guess they belonged to the posse. 
Kate, Oh, that's it! 
Hal. Yes, they thought they could 
catch some fish. 

Kate. I suppose they were welcome 
to those poles? 

[Sets pun of trout on box. 
Hal. Most assuredly. Helen and I 
were glad to get rid of them. We were 
disgusted with the fishing. 
Kate. A foiue fish story ! 

[Hal and Helen advance- 
I'll buy you a little hachet as soon as 
we get to town. 

Hal. And I will buy you the finest 
silk in town, as a slight token of my 
thankfulness to you for the good you 
did me at the most trying moment of 
my life. 

Kate. Faith! I'll wear that silk at 
your widding. 

Sophronia. {To Mal^ rising.) When 



104 THE HOR81li THIEF. 

are you and Helen to be married? 

[Sets pail of berries on chciir. 
Hal. Three weeks from to-day. 
SophroQia. Where? 
Helen. At the old ranch. 

[Willie rises, drops pan in chair 
and advances to Sophronia. 
Robert. (To audience.) And we ex- 
tend to all a cordial invitation to be 
present at the wedding. 

Kate. The harse thaif is caught, 
an' the day is set for his ixecution. 

Robert and Kate, R.C. Hal 
and Helen, C. Sophronia and 
Willie, L.C. 

CURTAIN. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




